The west-flowing rivulets are the only hope of Greater Bangalore to meet its future water needs.

Irrigation expert G S Paramasivaiya, who heads the committee set up by Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to identify new sources of water for Bangalore, said that 1,330 tmc ft water is flowing into the sea from rivulets in Dakshina and Udupi districts.

“If we manage to bring in even 80-90 tmc ft water from these rivulets, we’ll not only be able to meet the requirements of Greater Bangalore, but will also be able to address the need of six districts - Bangalore Urban and Rural, Kolar, Tumkur, Mandya and Hassan,” said the 89-year-old expert.

He said in a few months, he would make a recommendation to the BWSSB as well as the State government in this regard.

A committee headed by him had conducted a feasibility study on harnessing water from the west-flowing rivers in the State when Mr S M Krishna was the chief minister. Subsequently, the government ordered a survey of garland canals and service canals by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

“ISRO completed the survey. As the government made only a part-payment, it hasn’t submitted the report. I have requested the government to pay the balance amount so it will release the same. With the help of the report, we will be able to submit our report to the BWSSB in six months,” Mr Paramasivaiya said.

The present committee sees three to four options to solve water woes in Bangalore. The first one is to get water from Torekadadevanahalli, where a pumping station already exists; the second is to draw water from Hemavathi canal in Kunigal and the third is to tap the west-flowing hallas (rivulets) in the Nethravathi valley.

The committee has shelved the first two options as it it feels they are not feasible. Mr Paramasivaiya said if the project, estimated to cost Rs 12,000 crore, is implemented, a navigation facility in the 400-km canal from Western Ghats to Bangalore can be created. However, the proposed project is facing opposition from the people of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

“There is a misconception that we will divert the Nethravathi river, which is wrong. We plan to collect only six per cent of waste water from the ridges of Western Ghats and direct it to six districts through canals. As no reservoir will be constructed, there will be no submergence of land in the region. The concern over damage to environment is also not well-founded. Once the canal is ready, we can plant 25 lakh saplings on either side of the canal,” Mr Paramasivaiya said.