Bengaluru
Suspicions have been raised by activists and villagers regarding the recent incident of sewage contamination in Varthur Lake. Some believe that illegal borewells and water tanker suppliers might be connected to this pollution. The region has witnessed a decline in groundwater levels, which has created problems for tanker suppliers. Some tanker operators have alleged that water suppliers may have played a role in the sewage issue. They suggest that sewage may be diverted into Varthur Lake, depleting the local water table, making it easier for tanker operators to extract water from borewells. Jagadish Reddy, a Varthur resident, emphasized that tanker operators could easily fill their tankers from borewells due to this situation. Tanker suppliers and borewell drilling have become lucrative businesses in the Bellandur area, particularly in Balagere village. Ashok Mrityunjaya, the president of the AAP’s Mahadevpur unit, has called on Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to investigate these concerns. While some residents are afraid to speak out, there are reports of problems caused by the water tanker mafia in Mahadevpur. People have been making anonymous phone calls and complaints, fearing their identities would be disclosed. Residents have reported to government agencies that there is no clear authority responsible for granting borewell drilling permissions in the area. Activist Sandeep Anirudhan has urged the establishment of a local authority in each ward to monitor and curb illegal borewell drilling and the water tanker mafia. The situation underscores the complex challenges of managing water resources in areas facing both groundwater depletion and pollution.
