The parched Hesaraghatta Lake and Thippagondanahalli (TG Halli) reservoir may once again supply drinking water to the city as the Urban Development Department (UDD) is preparing an ambitious plan to pump water from Ethinahole to the reservoirs.
These two reservoirs were the city’s only sources of drinking water until the Cauvery I Stage was implemented in 1971.
The UDD principal secretary P N Srinivasachary said, “The Water Resources Department has agreed to give 2.5 tmcft of water from Ethinahole. The water would be pumped to TG Halli and Hesaraghatta lakes, be treated and then it will be pumped to the city.”
According to official sources, Hesaraghatta lake has to be restored before water is pumped into it as the lake infrastructure has been unused since 1986. There has been a long-standing demand to restore the lake. Though TG Halli reservoir has the capacity to treat and pump 125 million litres per day (MLD), Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) stopped pumping water from there over six months ago. At present, there is only 12 feet of water in the reservoir.
The water from the west-bound Ethinahole river would be pumped and canalised to a collection centre near Sakaleshpura. From there, the water would be allowed to flow in an open canal till Tumkur and the BWSSB will pump the water to TG Halli and Hesaraghatta reservoir.
At present, 19 tmcft of water has been allocated from the Cauvery and the BWSSB has the capacity to supply 1,400 MLD of water from all the five Cauvery drinking water projects. The available water is expected to meet the city’s demand till 2015.