The Karnataka High Court on Friday asked the authorities concerned to find out pockets of the city where groundwater contaminated, prevent people from drinking such water, and come out with a strategy for supplying clean drinking water.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice B.V. Nagarathna issued oral directions in this regard while hearing a public interest litigation petition, which the court had suo motu initiated based on a newspaper report on contamination of drinking water in 52 localities of the city.
“You have to tell what immediate steps you would take so as to prevent people from drinking ground water, which is supposed to be contaminated,” the Bench said. Stating that liability of supplying clean drinking water to citizens is on the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), the Bench said that tapping of contaminated groundwater should be stopped so that people should not suffer with health problem for lifetime.
Earlier, counsel for BWSSB said the expansion of Bangalore and limited availability of water from Cauvery river, were posing difficulties.
The Court will hear the case again on August 8.
