New areas under BBMP thirst for treated water

New areas under BBMP thirst for treated water

New areas under BBMP thirst for treated water


R Madhusudhan
First Published : 20 Aug 2009 04:44:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 20 Aug 2009 10:03:59 AM IST

BANGALORE: People living in areas newly integrated to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) are at a greater risk to water-borne diseases, as untreated water is being supplied to many such places.

Places like Suknadhatte, Luggere, Svathantra Yodhara Nagara, Shivapura and parts of Peenya are receiving water that is neither treated nor chlorinated.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is not in a position to supply treated Cauvery water to these areas and hence is supplying water from its 5,000-odd borewells.

Moreover, waterlogging is rampant in these newly-added areas as even basic drainage facilities are not avaiable. There is even a possibility of drainage water contaminating the borewells that are used to supply drinking water in these places.

In some areas like Dodda Nekkundi, Ramamurthynagar, Kothnur, Hegde Nagar, Panathur, Varthur, Bellandur, Bhadrappa Layout, Byatrayanpura, Sarakki-Puttenahalli, Bijnapura and Mangammanapalya water stagnates for days after it rains.

Water expert Captain Raja Rao, says, “There is a high risk of mosquitoe-borne diseases like malaria, dengue and chikungunya spreading in these areas when it rains, as the stagnant water provides congenial breeding ground for mosquitos.’’ According to Dr P A Shankar, Technical Director of Filtex Technologies Pvt Ltd, “Bacteria, viruses and protozoa cysts that cause water borne diseases spread with the flow of water during rainfall and cause diseases like jaundice, cholera, different sorts of flu, hepatitis, typhoid, and gastroenteritis, among others.

Some of these diseases can be fatal if not treated in time.’’ A senior BWSSB official said, “ At present we are supplying borewell water to most of the newly added areas. It is difficult to treat the water supplied to all these areas as we do not have adequate resources or reach. We are trying to treat the water wherever it is needed after getting it tested in our laboratory.’’ Another BBMP official said, ‘’We are carrying out fogging and spraying activities to check the growth of mosquitoes in the newly added areas. It will take sometime to provide drainage facilities in these places.’’

madhusudhan@epmltd.com