BET's letter to Chief Minister on Pathalganga Project

You can find the letter here

PATALAGANGA PROJECT -AGAINST HYDROGEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF KARNATAKA, INDIA

The paper by geologist G.V Hegde and K.C Subash Chandra is here

ABSTRACT

The proposal of ‘Water Quest Hydroresources Management Limited (WQH)’ to tap water through deep bore wells from concept based resources located deep in the earth crust as ‘Water Veins/Underground Rivers’ was for its consideration by the Government of Karnataka (GoK) as ‘Patala Ganga project’ during 2017. Based on the details available, a scientific evaluation of the viability or otherwise of the project in Karnataka is presented in this paper.The evaluation carried out has revealed that the reasoning of WQH about the concept of perennial water veins/Underground Rivers at depths beyond 300-800m, from seawater distillate as a source and trans-continental water veins flow is not scientific, in view of the geological, geomorphological, hydrogeological and structural features of the State. Groundwater occurring in the State is attributed mainly to dynamic and/or static resources of meteoric origin in the composite aquifer system, but not from the source as contemplated by WQH. The proposed Patala Ganga project in Karnataka is not feasible for sustainable long term supply of water from such sources.

Patalaganga Project in Karnataka

     The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Department, Government of Karnataka (GoK) had convened a meeting on May 15, 2017 to discuss about the possibility of implementation of the proposal by M/s. Water Quest Hydroresources (WQH) to drill deep bore wells in search of untapped water from greater depths (‘Patala Ganga’) for public water supply. This concept based WQH proposal states “seawater distillate is natural fresh water formed by the seawater continuously flowing by gravity along fractures across hundreds of kilometre within the continental crust at a depth of around six kilometre, thus generating an inexhaustible supply of steam when temperature exceeds around 1500c. With the salt/minerals settling at the bottom of the fractures, the steam generated moves upwards along pores, fractures and sinkholes of the geological formations encountered to condense as seawater distillate capped by some impervious formation typically at the depth of 300-800 meters. This seawater distillate may dissolve some chemical constituents from the geological formations through which it passes. The seawater distillate can traverse continents in the form of perennial water veins (Jala nadis). Seawater Distillate is not dependent of rain or typical groundwater recharge. These are self-recharging and self-replenishing water sources”.

    In this regard, duly considering the geomorphological, geological, structural and hydrogeological aspects of Karnataka, an in-depth study was carried out by G.V. Hegde and K.C. Subhash Chandra, hydrogeologists, to evaluate the merit or otherwise of WQH proposal. The results of this study is published as a scientific paper entitled“Patalaganga project against hydrogeological characteristics of Karnataka, India”in the Indian Journal of Scientific Research [ IJSR 09(1) 65-69, 2018].The copy of the said paper attached for reference.

The significant features arrived from the study are:

 1. The concept of WQH about the mechanism of ‘percolation of sea water to a deeper level, formation of sea water distillate and generation of Water Veins/Underground Rivers at shallow depth is only hypothetical. Such a condition is not a possibility in the hard rock terrains of Karnataka and hence occurrence of pockets of seawater distillate as perennial source for self-replenishing, self-recharging water veins/underground Rivers finds no scientific reasoning.

2.  The concept of trans-continental water flow does not find any merit in the context of Karnataka and finds no scientific merit even to mitigate acute water supply problems.

3.  Geological, geomorphological, hydrogeological and structural features of the State do not support transmission of seawater across hundreds of kilometre land-inward.

4.  Groundwater in the target locations of WQH in Karnataka (Indi, Aland, Shrinivasapur, Pavagada, Chikkanayakanahalli, Sidlaghatta, Challakere, Anekal, Beladadi, Nabhapur, Mahaligapur, Tirlpur and Annigeri) attributed to groundwater resources of meteoric origin in the composite aquifer system, but not from the source as contemplated by WQH.

5.  Though water yielding potential fractures are limited to 300m depth, bore wells attempted in the State beyond 500-600m have not remained sustainable.

       In view of the above, the authors strongly contend that the proposal of WQH finds no merit at any point of time for implementation.

       It is learnt that, WQH pilot bore wells drilled in Chittoor District of Andhra Pradesh during the year 2018 have failed. 

By BET Trustee G V Hegde (Geologist) and BET Resource person K. C. Subhash Chandra (Geologist) 

Conservation of Nandi Hills research report submitted to Agriculture Minister

     Continuous expansion of Bangalore, both in terms of population and territory is adversely affecting the natural ecosystems in the surrounding areas. Nandi Hills is one of the most eco- sensitive areas nearby Bangalore which is home to several exotic species of birds. It is also a very popular weekend getaway, where a lot of people visit and this has created a situation wherein some sort of a control need be visualised and put into effect.

       Apart from the problems that are caused as a result of overcrowding and vehicular pollution, the existence of the Bangalore International Airport, too does have a significant impact on the Nandi Eco-system, as it is a safe haven for a large number of migratory birds. It is also to be noted that around six riverine systems have their origin near this area.

 

    Apart from these concerns, growing developmental activities and a booming real estate business has also been changing the eco-system. Water abstraction and pollution as a result of large scale construction activities have now started to change the calm and serene atmosphere in and around the area. Large tracts of land are being put to cultivation and unscientific methods resorted to also do cause a lot of harm, not only for the rich soil that is present but also to the water bodies that are present. 

Given all this, it is quite clear that the eco-system in and around the Nandi Hills area is to be protected and taken care of.

Read the full report here

Long-term plastic accumulation in urban freshwater

Microplastics dating back to the 1950s have been found in a sediment core taken from the lake bed of Hampstead Pond No.1 in London, UK. Plastic pollution is frequently featured in the news as a contemporary, oceanic environmental problem. However, the new open-access study by Dr. Simon Turner from University College London and colleagues provides evidence of long-term plastic accumulation in urban freshwater environments. 

Read more here

Water leakages from Cauvery Pipeline is at 37% says BWSSB

From Bangalore mirror:

Bengaluru is often compared to singapore, but turns out when it comes to checking water pilferage and leakage, the city is not close even to Dhaka

BWSSB chairman Tushar Girinath said Bengaluru may have to wait for three more decades to fix the problem. Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, and Singapore are giving their people well-planned administration. Water leakages in those cities are down to 4 – 5%, whereas Bengaluru has a leakage of 37.59%. We can bring it down to 5% only by 2050. Continue reading here

What is Koramanagala-Challaghatta (KC) valley project?

In a nutshell:

       The project is to fill the lakes of drought-hit Chikkaballapur and Kolar districts with secondary treated water from KC valley. The Secondary Treatment Plant (STP), located on the banks of Bellandur lake collects sewage water directly from the sewer lines for treatment. During the planning stage, the project was opposed by activists and scientist as it was carried out without Environment Impact Assessment(EIA) and public consultation. Crux of the matter was Secondary treatment. Scientist and Lok Adalat had recommended Tertiary treatment to avoid/mitigate groundwater contamination.

      The government went ahead with the project without addressing the concerns. Few days into it, so called treated water was frothing in the lakes of Kolar. Activist of Kolar, Shashwatha Neeravari Horata Samiti , went to high court. High court stayed the project, but then eventually allowed the project based on the water quality reports submitted by the government. High court ignored the scientists report by IISC which showed heavy metals. Mishap happened again. This time the activist went to Supreme Court which stayed the project.

Upcoming blog posts cover BET analysis of why this project does more harm than good. This was shared with the public during workshops