BU noncommittal on giving land for sewage plant at Jnanabharathi

Bangalore University has deferred the proposal to allot land to the BWSSB for building a sewage treatment plant (STP) on the Jnanabharathi campus.

Though the varsity had agreed to provide a 12-acre parcel for the STP a few years ago, the syndicate on Wednesday decided to defer the matter and submit an interim report to the government. It also decided to meet the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to get more details about the project.

Syndicate members revealed that 12 acres was a large area, while the environmental impact of the STP should also be analysed.

“We agreed with the need to clean the Vrushabavathi as per the National Green Tribunal’s order,” said a syndicate member. “But we’d like to know the necessity for 12 acres of land. Besides, has the BWSSB done a study on the environmental impact of the STP’s construction?”

Several environmentalists and academicians raised objections on the project and some of them even wrote to the Governor, the varsity’s chancellor, urging him to stop handing over the varsity’s land to build the STP. Recently, a series of protests erupted on the campus over the allotment of land inside the campus for private institutions.

The STP has been planned to treat the Vrushabavathi’s sewage water. As the rivulet flows through Jnanabharathi, the treated water could be used for various purposes in the university.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 150-200 crore. “It was decided to submit an interim report to the government with all the details and discussions held in the syndicate before convening another meeting,” said BU’s Registrar administration K Jyothi.