Karnataka

This report by the Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore highlights and argues for the the case of saving the Gundia river, one of the most important tributaries of the river Kumaradhara in Hassan district in Karnataka, which is known for its very rich vegetation and biological wealth. This is in the context of the proposal put forward by the Karnataka Power Corporation Limited to implement the Hydroelectric project (GHEP) on the river. 

Fisherman on Hessarghatta Lake on the Arkavathy River

It is here in a small pond that the Arkavathy river is famously said to originate. It moves down the hill in the form of a spring and enters the first of the man-made reservoirs, called ‘tanks’, the Chikkarayyappanhalli Kere. From thence begins the journey of this tributary to the Cauvery. Passing through a series of tanks built to hold its water for irrigation it comes to the large ‘Nagarakere’ at Dodballapur. The entire drinking water for the town of population 100,000 used to come from this large tank. Moving further on the river comes to the almost 7 sq.km. Large Hessarghatta tank. In 1894 this tank was enlarged and became the first external source of water supply to the city of Bangalore.

The Rainwater Harvesting Policy (2006) for Karnataka state has evolved out of the need for conserving rainwater and providing facilities for rainwater harvesting, in the context of the growing rate of urbanisation in the state and the rapid depletion of groundwater resources, leading to a water crisis.

The objective of the urban rainwater harvesting policy is to ensure that the available water is put to best possible use in the state by encouraging involvement of  multiple level of stakeholders such  as government and private institutions as well as  citizens, in the appropriate management of rainwater.

The document describes the details of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act and includes: 

• The short title, extent and commencement
• Definitions
• Details of the establishment of the corporation
• Municipal authorities
• Elections
• Powers and functions of the corporation and other authorities
• Proceedure of corporation and committees

This document from the Department of Mines and Geology, Government of Karnataka site is a bill to regulate, and control the development and management of groundwater and matters connected therewith. The document is divided into the following chapters:

Good option: The city needs multiple sourcing of water and open wells have the potential to provide up to a third of the requirement

Just how a city can be arbitrary with its policy on water management and therefore leading to sub-optimal conditions is made clear by a recent example one came across. Balasubramanian had an old open well dug to a depth of 30 ft. when he first built his house in the early 80s. The well had yielded water for quite some years but then subsequently had gone dry.

Talking History is an inter-collegiate course on Oral History offered at the Srishti School of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore, India. The films were made between February - March 2011.

 Doddabommasandra lake

 Doddabommasandra lake is located close to B.E.L circle in an area called Doddabommasandra in Bangalore. This film endeavours to portray the story and memories of drying up of Doddabommasandra through two different viewpoints. The story reflects the pattern in which we are exploiting and losing our water resources.
A short film by Gautam Vishwanath and Kinshuk Surjan