BENGALURU: An urban expert on Saturday presented a detailed, comprehensive plan about an alternative source of water for the city, apart from the Cauvery.
At a workshop ‘Right to Water Summit’ organised by the Nav Bharat Democratic Party, Ashwin Mahesh presented a report -- Matthondu Cauvery -- which he had submitted to the government last year.
The proposal relies upon tapping other water sources such as large lakes, rainwater harvesting, dual piping, treatment of waste water and groundwater recharge, in the city and peripheral areas.
By providing the estimated water generated by every method, Mahesh proved that 2,400 MLD would be generated from the plan’s implementation. This is far greater than 1,400 MLD, the total water transported from Cauvery, without leakages.
Mahesh also showed that the plan was very much feasible.
“We can propose many things, but nothing will move unless we propose a comprehensive project,” he said.
Regarding RWH, Mahesh said the amount of rainfall in BBMP limits is as much as the total Cauvery water supply.
Since it is certainly not feasible to have RWH in 100 per cent of the structures, Mahesh’s solution was to implement it in at least 10 per cent of the houses in the entire Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority region, which is 11 times the BBMP area. Mahesh concluded by adding that the project also needed annual targets in 3-5 years, and money should be allocated for it in the state budget.
Sources of extra water
Watershed improvement and local supply from largest lakes: 700* (conservative)
Rainwater harvesting in 50 per cent buildings: (150-200)
Dual piping in industrial areas and future buildings (30/year)
Behavioural modification (variable)
Groundwater recharge (500)
Treated wastewater (1,000)
*in MLD