Bengaluru: The BWSSB, in its efforts to reduce the burden on the Cauvery river and supplement the city’s water requirement, is planning to revive the Hessarghatta reservoir, which used to supply water to the western and northern parts of the city, BWSSB sources said.
Bengaluru Development Minister K.J. George, with top BWSSB officials, will visit the reservoir on Wednesday.
In the 19th century, the city’s water needs were met by wells and ponds. As the population started to increase, in 1883, a reservoir at Hessarghatta across the Arkavathy river (a tributary of Cauvery) was built. But the reservoir was closed in 1998, as it went dry.
Water expert S. Vishwanath believes that reviving Hessarghatta reservoir will reduce the burden on the river Cauvery to a small extent and augment the city's water supply by 35 million litres per day.
He says, “Hessarghatta is 24 km from the city and is home to one of the first water supply schemes located outside the city. It was full in 1994. In 1998, it was given up as a reliable source of water for the city. To revive a reservoir, a lot of things have to be done. These include preventing exploitation of groundwater, managing the catchment area and changing agricultural practices. These will increase the inflow of water to the reservoir.”
Former irrigation secretary Capt. Raja Rao said, “Owing to encroachment of the catchment area of Arkavathi and Kumudvathi rivers and exploitation of ground water by industries, the inflow to the Hessarghatta reservoir reduced. With proper measures the reservoir can be rejuvenated and replenished.”
