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Ground Water Pollution / Depletion
Written By psaram42 - 2 March, 2011
Bangalore BWSSB Water Complaint water supply drinking water Pollution
Ground water Pollution [1] and depletion are the major threats being faced in major cities of India in general and Bangalore in particular.
To days [02March2011] Hindu story “Law Graduate found among homeless during night census” is about a senior citizen from Bangalore who was a successful farmer till his irrigation well went dry. I tried to get the link to this story but unfortunately the Hindu epaper is not in the free domain. Hence I went and purchased a copy after returning from Vikram Hospital where I saw the page 3 Hindu story reclining on the beautiful Sofa at the Hospital.
The story is about this person who was a successful farmer before his bore well went dry as the neighbor dug a deeper bore well. This person is a Law Graduate too! By the way this neighbor of his sells this ground water now.
I am also in a similar predicament, as my neighbor is making a big deep Tank for his BWSSB water, which is deeper than our tank. This has made me suffer sleepless nights as I am afraid about the consequences. BWSSB supplies drinking water by tankers. The number of tankers they have is miniscule when compared the number, the Water Tanker mafia in Bangalore has. Our BJP MLA’s do collect hafta money from these tanker people, I believe.
There is no solution for ground water depletion. However pollution of ground water can be done away with. Will the bribe taking ministers wake up before it is too late?
COMMENTS
psaram42 - 2 March, 2011 - 15:03
As of now it is legal. All of us do have to buy this water in emergencies. Probably taxing this water heavily may be a solution. I have no idea whether any body in our cabinet has thought about this problem. Is Investing in a water tanker be worthwhile, Murali772 sir?
n - 3 March, 2011 - 20:56
There is no solution for ground water depletion.
There is - it is called infiltration. See also SuDs.
Recycling is the nature’s way of sustainability
psaram42 - 4 March, 2011 - 04:52
The groundwater table depletion is a serious threat recognized by our government. That is why the government has brought in legislation to make RWH compulsory for all house holds built on 60x40 and above sites in Bangalore. The harvested water is in fact used for ground water infiltration.
The sustainable density of population in our city of Bangalore has a limitation with the amount of average annual (a) rain fall expected and (b) Cauvery water available. For this the ground water contribution well exceeds the area of the city if the density of population is more.
not just major cities, all towns and cities
silkboard - 4 March, 2011 - 05:34
Just returned from a visit to my native place, a small town in Jharkhand. There is no proper piped water supply from the "Nagar nigam" (aka the municipality, which is in shambles, as you would expect), so ground water is the source for all. The town has seen lot of "growth" recently, many new houses have been built. And to top it all, rains have failed for last two years.
Result? Very very scary. The well we have always used for water at our house has almost dried. Unimaginable. Some areas where water has always been "too deep" are in trouble already.
Every time I return after a visit to this town, I feel that talking about Urban development etc in "almost hope-less cases" like Bangalore is perhaps not worth our time. We may touch lot more lives, and make much bigger difference be focusing on smaller towns who are literally helpless and are "growing" virtually uncontrolled, with no support (constructive criticism, ideation, suggestions, consultations whatever) from anyone at all.
SB, you have touched the right cord!
kbsyed61 - 4 March, 2011 - 06:04
SB,
You are 100% right. As Gandhi had said India lives in villages, it would be a worth while effort to take up the cause of less fortunes.
The story you have narrated is very familiar. This is true of majority of villages and towns in India. This is the story of other India who have been long forgotten by the so called Governments (State and Central), uncaring urban middle class and indifferent bureaucracy.
Any ideas how we can attempt this?
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