BANGALORE: The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is taking all possible measures to stop quarrying and mining activities around Thippagondanahalli (TG Halli) dam as the vibrations emanating from such activities might damage the dam in the long run.
The Mines and Geology department has already stopped 29 quarries within the three kms from the dam, from continuing their activities, on BWSSB’s request. Work at some more quarries might be stopped after the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) gives its opinion on the impact of the vibrations caused by the quarrying.
The decision to ban quarrying was taken after the vibrations from these quarries recorded on a seismometer, was termed dangerous to the dam.
The seismometer has also recorded vibrations from the quarries that are situated more than five kms away from the dam and BWSSB has sent the recorded data to IISc for its opinion.
According to experts, ideally no mining should be carried out in a distance of five kms from any dam, and if it is increased to ten kms, it is safer.
BWSSB chairman PB Ramamurthy said, “According to the laws passed by the state government in 2003, no activity other than agriculture is permitted around the TG Halli dam and only certain activities are permitted in the catchment areas of the rivers flowing into the dam.
We are trying to implement these norms to protect the dam and to improve the quality of water flowing into the dam.” TG Halli dam is one of the sources of drinking water to the city and it pumps around 60 milion litres per day (MLD) of water is being pumped to the city everyday.
madhusudhan@expressbuzz.com