Date:01/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/01/stories/2007020121820300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Plan to check contamination of water bodies

Staff Reporter

Plan will cover 62 villages coming under BBMP's purview

Feasibility study on parks in new wards to be done

BANGALORE: The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in association with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has chalked out a plan to check contamination of water bodies in 62 villages coming under BBMP's purview.

Top officials from these agencies, who met on Wednesday to discuss the issue, took a serious note of contamination of water bodies in the new areas. They decided to jointly tackle the issue.

This decision is in line with the State Government's plans to preserve lakes and tanks in the larger civic body. The Government has directed the BBMP Commissioner to get a feasibility study done to ensure that each of the new wards has greenery and parks. "The idea is to regain the lost glory of Bangalore's `Garden city' image," a top BBMP official said.

As per the decision, officials of these agencies will identify water bodies and initiate measures to check their contamination. "We are also looking at the water bodies as a potential source of water in the villages," the official said.

Following the meeting, the jurisdictional officials have been instructed to ensure that people do not indulge in washing clothes and animals in tanks and lakes, the official added.