‘Worst Water Crisis in 3 Decades, Mekedutu Project Ultimate Solution’, Says DK Shivakumar, BJP Stages Protest – News18

Amid the ongoing severe water crisis in Karnataka’s Bengaluru, the IT hub of India, Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday said that the Mekedatu Project is the ultimate solution for the water issue adding that the Opposition parties are engaging in politics on the issue.

Adding that Karnataka had not witnessed such a severe drought in the past three decades, the Congress leader assured people that efforts are being made to curb the activities of the water mafia in the region and the next two months will be crucial in that respect.

“In the last 30-40 years we had not seen such drought though there was drought earlier we had never declared such a large number of taluks as drought-affected,” Shivakumar said.

About the state government’s efforts, Shivakumar said, “Mekedatu will be the ultimate solution for the water crisis in Bengaluru. We have Cauvery reserved water for the water supply in the city for the coming months. ”

“More than 1500 private water tankers have been registered under the government. The rate has been fixed,” he said adding that the officers have been deployed.

Bengaluru requires 2,100 MLD of potable water, out of which 1,450 MLD comes from the Cauvery River, officials sought to ensure that there is sufficient water in the reservoirs to last till July.

The city needs about eight thousand million cubic feet (TMC) from March to May while there is 34 TMC water in reservoirs, the officials said.

The remaining 650 MLD of the city’s water requirement comes from borewell water, they pointed out. There is a 250 MLD deficit here largely due to a lack of rain, depleting underground water levels and exploitation of groundwater.

Meanwhile, the civic authorities in Bengaluru have decided to fill the drying lakes with 1,300 million litres per day of treated water to replenish groundwater sources in the city, where about 50 per cent of the borewells have dried up.

This initiative has been taken up in association with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), BWSSB Chairman Ram Prasath Manohar said, adding that this is expected to add about 2030 MLD of water into the system.

Notably, the opposition BJP has planned for a protest at Freedom Park on Monday, aimed at drawing attention to the city’s water woes.

R Ashoka, the leader of the opposition, accused the Congress government of inefficiency suggesting that it has contributed to a situation where numerous multinational companies are contemplating relocating from the city.

Responding to this, Shivakumar said, “If they give any constructive suggestions, we are certainly open to considering them.”