This story is from June 26, 2017

Starved of water, Chikkaballapur pins hopes on Hebbal STP

Starved of water, Chikkaballapur pins hopes on Hebbal STP
Desilting of Kandavara Kere, once the largest lake in Chikkaballapur taluk, will start once chief minister Siddaramaiah flags it off on July 28.
CHIKKABALLAPUR: Spread over 330 acre, Kandavara Kere was once the largest lake in Chikkaballapur taluk. The last time residents saw the lake overflow was over 22 years ago. Teeming with weeds, Kandavara Kere now paints a sorry picture. However, it will be the first tank that will be returned to its former glory once it gets water from the sewage treatment plant (STP) commissioned by the state government at Hebbal in Bengaluru.
The STP is yet to become operational.
K Sudhakar, MLA of Chikkaballapur, said he requested for treated water to be diverted to his constituency as there is severe water crisis. Along with Kandavara Kere, and as a consequence of its refilling, 25 tanks in Chikkaballapur taluk and 22 others across neighbouring taluks are expected to be rejuvenated, “The water will flow into this lake from Bagalur via Jala Hobli.According to experts, de-silting of this lake is essential for the percolation of water through the gradients as well as to increase the capacity of the tank. The farmers will not receive water directly but through recharging of borewells across the taluk,“ he said.
Inauguration on July 28
De-silting will start once chief minister Siddaramaiah flags it off on July 28. Sudhakar said he had requested the CM to commission an additional tertiary treatment plant at Bagalur for the water to be fit for domestic use.
“If the same thing is done for Kolar, it will cost Rs 500 crore annually to maintain the two plants.But it will be worth as the population of Chikkaballapur and Kolar will benefit. The two districts have a combined population 50-60 lakh, which is at least 10% of the state's population and they are facing severe scarcity of water,“ he said.
For distressed farmers of the district, relief from fluoride-laden water will be much required, not just for their health, but also for their livelihood. Farmers said most borewells in the area are deeper than 1,000 feet, with the average being as much as 1,500 feet.

“Sometimes, even if we dig deeper there won't be water. It is heavily contaminated in the depths. If you go 2,000 feet deep, that's all you get.Lately , most children in our villages have been complaining of pain in the joints and births with misshapen limbs are being recorded,“ said Shivashankar, a farmer.
Srinivas, a retired school headmaster, said waiting for the muchhyped Yettinahole project to take off was an exercise in futility . “Politicians have been lying to us for years about us getting water from that project. At least through this project, our borewells will get replenished and we will be able to comfortably cultivate our crops,“ he said.
“We are known for growing vegetables. If we get adequate water we will be able to supply to all of India,“ said another farmer.
Dr Sudhakar said he has plans to convert Kandavara Lake into an eco-tourism hotspot by introducing boating and other activities, and has already allocated Rs 3 crore for the same.
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