'Tests done on water from 2nd jack well in KC Valley'

The state government is awaiting the results of tests done on water samples from an alternative jack well that's expected to reduce pollution from Bellandur Lake, the High Court of Karnataka was informed on Thursday.

A division bench headed by Chief Justice Dinesh Maheshwari is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition that's challenged the KC Valley project on the grounds that it affects the health of local people as untreated water is polluting the groundwater.

At the last hearing, the Advocate General submitted that water in the KC valley was contaminated as treated water from a jack well overflowed following rainfall. Water from Bellandur Lake is sent to a jack well where the water is stored and pumped into other lakes, he added.

The court had asked if there was a provision for an alternative jack well in case there is a problem with the existing one. The Advocate General replied that there is an alternative jack well 9.5 km from the existing one.

The court then asked the government to test the alternative jack well by pumping water into it and submit a report on September 20. At Thursday's hearing. The court will now hear the matter on September 26.