Even animals don't drink water from tanks here

Effluents from Jigani industrial areas contaminate water bodies

A case in point is Anekal taluk where tanks and groundwater in Konasandra, Vadera Manchanahalli, Bommandanahalli and Dyavasandra have been contaminated due to dumping of granite dust and discharge of untreated effluents from the factories of the Jigani Industrial Estate.

The residents, who welcomed ‘industrialisation’ in their area as a sign of development, today, rue that the industries had deprived them of drinking water too.

Konasandra tank spread on 38 acres near the Jigani industrial area, was once the lifeline of the residents. The tank irrigated over 100 acres of land where paddy was cultivated.
Besides, it provided the livestock with adequate source of drinking water and fodder.

Rejected by all

Today, the colour and taste of water in the tank have changed  so much that even animals don’t drink it. The local variety of cows belonging to Mariyappa, Sakappa, Muniyappa, Anjanappa, Nanjundappa and Ramachandra died after drinking the filthy, black water from the tank, said the residents.

Contamination of the tank has affected the residents in the nearby villages where groundwater has been polluted.

Mariyappa said: “Once we used get water that was as tasty as tender coconut. Now, those who could afford, drink packaged mineral water brought from other areas.”

Granite dust dumped by the granite industries in Jigani is posing a threat to the Vadera Manchanahalli tank.

The tank and nearby fertile agriculture land have been filled with granite dust. The stench emanating from the area is nauseating, the residents complain.

Hebbagodi in the taluk is another example for the villages suffering the outcome of the devastating contamination of natural resources by industries.

Ragihalli, Krishnadoddi, Balarbande and surrounding areas have been ravaged by unabated stone-quarrying and mining of ‘filtered’ sand.

 The residents, deprived of potable water, clean air and fertile agriculture land, regret the heavy price they have to pay for the mushrooming industries and the ‘speedy development’ ushered in by them in the region.