The Karnataka High Court on Monday ordered issue of notice to the State government on a PIL petition, which has sought directions to halt the project of supplying treated water from the Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) in Bengaluru to minor irrigation tanks in Kolar, Chikkaballapura and Bengaluru Rural districts till a scientific study is carried out.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Krishna S. Dixit passed the order on a petition filed by R. Anjaneya Reddy, a resident of Chikkaballapura.
“Supplying reclaimed water from the STPs of Bengaluru, which contain a large amount of industrial effluents, heavy metals and harmful chemicals, to minor irrigation tanks in Kolar, Chikkaballapura, and Bengaluru Rural districts will affect the lives of human beings, livestock, aquatic life, and agricultural/farming in these areas,” claims the petitioner.
He pointed out that existing groundwater in these district already contains harmful substances like fluoride, nitrate,etc. The petitioner claimed that storing treated water from STPs in irrigation tanks will increase chemical content in the groundwater.
As it was pointed out that the supply of water to some of the tanks in Kolar district has already commenced, the bench stated that it would consider an interim plea for halting or reviewing the project on the next date of hearing after examining the reply to be submitted by the State government.
