GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI

Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganja Rejuvenation

RAJYA SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. *304

ANSWERED ON 22^ND JULY 2019

Pollution in Byramangala Reservoir, Karnataka

*304. SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR:

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a)Whether Government is aware of the looming public health catastrophe due to pollution and use of water from the 1200- acre Byramangala reservoir in Ramanagara district just outside Bengaluru city; and

(b)If so, steps taken by Government to reclaim the reservoir from certain destruction?

ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF JAL SHAKTI

(SHRI GAJENDRA SINGH SEKHAWAT)

(a)to (b)A statement is laid on the Table on the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED IN REPLY TO PARAS (a) TO (b) OF RAJYA SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *304 TO BE ANSWERED ON 22nd JULY 2019 ON “POLLUTION IN BYRAMANGALA RESERVOIR, KARNATAKA” RAISED BY SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR

(a)to (b) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) monitored the water quality of Byramangala reservoir during 2017 and 2018 under National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (NWMP). During both the years, water quality of the reservoir did not conform to the water quality criteria with respect to Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) & Faecal Coliforms (FC). Status of water quality of Byramangala Tank in Karnataka under NWMP is at Annexure I.

CPCB issued directions under Section 18 (1) (b) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 in the matter of treatment of untreated sewage and industrial effluent and disposal in the Byramangala Lake.

Subsequently, directions were issued by Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) vide letter dated 15.10.2018 under Section 33 (A) of the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act, 1974 read with Rule 34 of Karnataka State Board for Prevention and Control of Water Pollution (Procedure for Transaction of Business) and the Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Rules, 1974.

KSPCB is regularly monitoring the water quality of Byramangala reservoir and have observed that the water quality meets class “E” as classified in CPCB classification on best use. KSPCB carried out detailed survey of industries located in the catchment area of the reservoir during 2018. The details of action taken report with respect to industries and other organisations located in the catchment area of Vrishabhavathy-Valley and Byramangala Tank are at Annexure-II.

Bangalore Water Supply & Sewerage Board (BWSSB) have intimated that following works have been taken up to combat the pollution in Vrishabhavathy river which is main cause of Byramangala Tank pollution:

i)Providing major sewer lines in Vrishabhavathy Valley under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme and in 110 villages of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The work has been planned for completion by 2021.
ii) Setting up a 150 MLD capacity waste water treatment plant at Vrishabhavathy Valley and planned for completion by 2020.
iii) Upgrade the existing 180 MLD secondary waste water treatment plant at Vrishabhavathy Valley. This upgradation work requires 3 years for completion.

ANNEXURE-I

Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) & (b) of Starred Question No. *304 to be answered in Rajya Sabha on 22.07.2019 regarding “Pollution in Byramangala reservoir, Karnataka”.

ANNEXURE-II

Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) & (b) of Starred Question No. *304 to be answered in Rajya Sabha on 22.07.2019 regarding “Pollution in Byramangala reservoir, Karnataka”.

Action Taken report with respect to Industries and other Organization located in the catchment area of V- Valley & Byramangala Tank

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