LAKSHMISAGAR (KOLAR): Villagers of Lakshmisagar and Narasapura, whose lakes are filling up with KC Valley project water, do not want their milk-and-silk city to become a second Bellandur. They say that they are willing to cultivate their farms with the available rainwater. Otherwise, they say, the state government should treat the water scientifically and then pump the water to the lakes. Then, the project meant to recharge depleted aquifers of Kolar, will be a model for other district and states.
Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Development Minister G Parameshwara has said, during a ceremony at Vidhana Soudha on Thursday, that the water supply meets the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s standards and that during the release of treated water something may have gone wrong technically. When the treated water first reached Kolar (at Lakshmisagar Point) on June 2, there was no fear among the people of the district. But, on Wednesday, they were gripped with fear when they saw frothy water flowing into Lakshmisagar lake. Soon, the Kolar In Charge Deputy Commissioner Subha Kalyan took up the issue with Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and pumping of water was stopped.
Shankarappa of Narasapura said that the government had assured them that this project would be a boon to farmers, who were then happy that this was initiated. But, they began to panic when frothy water reached their end and people believed that this would affect the crops too. He said that they want the government to ensure that the water supplied is safe before declaring the project complete. Another farmer Muni Gangappa of Lakshmisagar said that the frothing water is causing sleepless nights for villagers. He said that farmers have been here for generations and they do not want to go elsewhere, but they are worried that polluted aquifers could make their livelihoods unsustainable.
Subha Kalyan said that a meeting will be held on Friday, in which BWSSB engineers, Minor Irrigation Department Executive Engineer, District Pollution Board Directors and KC Valley project contractors will be present.
The meeting has two points on its agenda. The first is that if there are any changes in water supply, like with the quantity being pumped from the supply point, these should be informed to the district adminsitration. The second is that every day the MID engineers and District Pollution Control Board officials should visit Lakshmisagar lake and report to the district administration, including whether they noticed any frothy water entering it.