Experts skeptical of tapping underground hydro resources

The state government’s proposal to extract water from underground rivers by going in for deep subterranean exploration has come in for flak from some of its own agencies.

India unit of US-based company WaterQuest Hydroresources Management has proposed to locate underground hydrological resources hundreds of feet below the ground level and use its deep drilling expertise to extract water.

“It is important to check the quality of water. At several places deep underground water is contaminated with fluoride or arsenic content,” Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre Director G S Srinivasa Reddy said. He pointed out that such projects could create ecological imbalance. “Besides, what if the water extracted after spending crores of rupees is unfit for drinking?” he asked.

Another scientist, who did not want to be named, said an expert committee should be constituted to study the scientific implications of the project. A company representative said similar projects have been executed in other countries with a success rate of 98%.