Water contamination: HC directs meeting of civic agencies

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday directed the State government to convene a meeting of officials from civic agencies on the supply of potable water to 110 villages under the jurisdiction of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike.

“The meeting should be chaired by the Principal Secretary, Urban Development Department. The commissioner of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and chairman of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board should participate in the meeting,” the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna said while hearing a suo moto petition on water contamination in these villages.

The Court has taken up the issue on the basis of newspaper reports. The respondents were directed to invite amicus curiae C K Nandakumar for the meeting. The Bench also directed the Karnataka Ground Water Authority to explore the possibility of treating ground water in 169 borewells, found to be contaminated and recharging the dried up borewells.

When the counsel for BWSSB submitted that water supply is limited to only some parts of the City, the Bench said, “Do not allow development works for the heck of business. The buildings are constructed just for business purpose. They are not bothered about water,” the Chief Justice said. The BWSSB submitted that it has laid 6000 km of pipeline and  supplying 19 tmc water to the City.

The State government was directed to submit a report by next date of hearing.