Is Cauvery river polluted by effluents from Bengaluru? This is the question in front of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Southern Bench after an advocate filed a petition before the tribunal seeking directions to prevent contamination of the river.
According to the petitioner K. Sudhan, 1.4 thousand million cubic (tmc) of Cauvery river water is to be utilised for the Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water project, which is expected to supply safe drinking water to Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.
Though impurities due to natural causes were inevitable, the Cauvery that flowed into Tamil Nadu through Biligundulu in Krishnagiri was highly polluted.
ADVERTISEMENT
This was because 80 percent of untreated sewage from Bengaluru city and its suburbs was being let into sewer systems that eventually drained into the river, the petitioner said.
The Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage (TWAD) Board, through the Hogenakkal Integrated Drinking Water project, was forced to use this source to supply drinking water to Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.
“These allegations are not imaginary, but submitted by Shivaraj Tangadagi, Minister for Minor irrigations in the Karnataka Legislative Council,” the petitioner claimed.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Bench comprising judicial member Justice M. Chockalingam and expert member P.S.Rao, has ordered notice to the respondents. The case has been adjourned to July 28.
National Green Tribunal to hear the petition filed by
an advocate