Bengaluru: Vrishabhavati River, which was once the lifeblood of Bengaluru city, is filled with all kinds of garbage and stinks. Therefore, Nagpur-based National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (Water) has submitted interim and final reports regarding the revitalisation of this river. Even after a year passed since the report was submitted, the rehabilitation works have not started yet.
A plan has been drawn up to purify the waste water flowing in Vrishabhavati and fill 97 lakes in Bengaluru city, Bengaluru Rural and Tumakuru District s. The Cabinet meeting on June 15 approved the proposal submitted by the Minor Irrigation Department regarding water purification of Vrishabhavati canal at a cost of Rs. 1081 Crore.
Filling of 97 lakes in Tumakuru District, Bengaluru Rural, in the Cabinet meeting led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. The Cabinet has agreed to purify the water of Vrishabhavati canal at a cost of Rs. 1081 Crore and drain the water into the lakes.
126 lakes of Kolar and Chikkaballapura Districts are being purified and filled with waste water in the Koramangala-Challaghatta valley. In the same model, a plan has been drawn up to purify the sewage flowing in Vrishabhavati and drain it into the lakes. The waste water flowing in the Vrishabhavati Valley is purified by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) at the waste water treatment plants (STPs) at Nayandahalli and Mylasandra and released back to the Vrishabhavati.
With the aim of reusing the purified water, the Minor Irrigation Department has formulated the Vrishabhavi Valley Irrigation Project. In the first phase of that project, steps are being taken to fill 97 lakes in 3 districts. The Monsoon Irrigation Project is being implemented in three phases. The Minor Irrigation Department has prepared for the implementation of the first phase.
The project cost for the first phase has been fixed at Rs. 865 Crore. This amount will be spent on construction of canal, land acquisition required for pipeline installation, crop damage compensation if there is agricultural land passing through the pipeline, pipe installation and other works related to the project. The tender process has been started for the project and after the appointment of the contractor, the work will be completed and the water will be drained to the lakes. Also, the contractor has to monitor the drainage work for 5 years after the completion of the work.
The project which is currently being implemented is the first phase. At this stage, water is being drained to 97 lakes. The Minor Irrigation Department has decided to discharge 2nd and 3rd phase projects after observing the waste water flow and purification in Vrishabavati Valley in the coming days. In the coming days, construction of new STPs and other measures will be taken to allow monsoon water to flow to more lakes.
The water brought by Vrishabhavati is stored in one place and then drained into the lakes. Accordingly, tanks will be constructed at Nayandahalli to drain water to lakes in Bangalore city, Viranjanipur near Nelamangala for lakes in Bengaluru Rural District and Honunduke in Tumakuru Taluk for lakes in Tumakuru District. Separate pumpsets are installed to pump water from it. According to that, 4 pumps and 2 additional pumps will be installed in Nayandahalli pump which will work daily. Similarly, 3 pumps each will be installed at Viranjanipur and Honnuduke, from which water will be discharged to the lakes.