Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts have endured severe water scarcity for decades — marked by plummeting groundwater levels, recurring droughts, and acute drinking water shortages affecting millions of residents. The HN Valley (Hebbal-Nagawara Valley) and KC Valley (Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley) projects were designed as lifelines, channelling treated wastewater from Bengaluru city to revitalize these drought-prone regions.
While these projects have brought measurable relief — irrigating thousands of acres and partially recharging groundwater — grave concerns persist about the adequacy of treatment, heavy metal contamination, microbial presence, and long-term ecological impacts.
The proposed system comprises three mandatory, sequential treatment stages deployed at identified release and distribution points along both valley canal networks:
| Parameter | Current Risk | Target Standard | Monitoring Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) | High – organic pollution | <20 mg/L (CPCB Class D) | Daily |
| Heavy Metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Hg) | Industrial effluent contamination | WHO permissible limits | Weekly |
| Total Coliform / E.coli | Sewage origin | 0 CFU/100mL | Daily |
| pH | Variable – corrosive risk | 6.5 – 8.5 | Continuous IoT |
| Nitrates / Phosphates | Eutrophication risk | <10 mg/L / <1 mg/L | Weekly |
| Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) | Soil salinity risk | <500 mg/L (agri use) | Continuous IoT |
| Pesticide / Pharmaceutical Residues | Urban runoff contamination | Below detection limit | Monthly |
| Phase | Activity | Timeline | Responsibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | Detailed water quality audit of current HN/KC Valley output; baseline contamination mapping | Months 1–3 | KSPCB + BWSSB + IISc / IIT-B |
| Phase 2 | Design and tender Three-Layer Filtration Units at priority nodes | Months 4–8 | BWSSB + Minor Irrigation Dept |
| Phase 3 | Construction and installation of filtration systems | Months 9–18 | PWD + Contracted Agency |
| Phase 4 | IoT sensor network deployment; public water quality dashboard | Months 12–20 | Dept of IT/BT Karnataka |
| Phase 5 | Commissioning, testing, certification, and public audit | Months 20–24 | KSPCB + NGT Oversight |
| Ongoing | Quarterly reports to NGT, CPCB, State Government, and public | Continuous | District Collector offices |
| Component | Estimated Cost (₹ Crore) |
|---|---|
| Primary Filtration Infrastructure (Layer 1) | ₹ 45 – 60 Cr |
| Advanced Chemical Filtration (Layer 2) | ₹ 80 – 120 Cr |
| UV/Ozonation + IoT Monitoring (Layer 3) | ₹ 40 – 60 Cr |
| Civil Works, Pipeline Modifications | ₹ 30 – 50 Cr |
| Operation & Maintenance (5 years) | ₹ 25 – 35 Cr |
| Total Estimated Investment | ₹ 220 – 325 Crore |
I write to you with deep concern and a strong sense of civic responsibility on behalf of the farming communities, residents, and the ecological heritage of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts — two of Karnataka's most water-stressed regions.
The HN Valley and KC Valley projects represent a commendable effort by the State to address chronic water scarcity in these districts by channelling treated wastewater from Bengaluru. However, scientific evidence, ground-level reports from farmers, and independent water quality surveys have raised alarming concerns about the quality of water currently flowing through these canals. The water, originating largely from Bengaluru's sewage network, appears to carry residual heavy metals (cadmium, lead, chromium, arsenic), pharmaceutical compounds, pathogens, and industrial effluents even after the current treatment stages.
The consequences of inadequately treated water flowing into agricultural lands and water bodies are severe and long-lasting:
I therefore respectfully urge Your Excellency to issue urgent directions for the implementation of a mandatory Three-Layer Filtration System at all key distribution and release points of both valley canal networks, comprising: (1) Primary Filtration to remove suspended solids and sludge; (2) Advanced Chemical Filtration to eliminate heavy metals, industrial chemicals, and pharmaceutical residues; and (3) Final Purification with UV/Ozonation and a real-time IoT-enabled water quality monitoring system with a public dashboard.
A detailed technical project proposal with cost estimates, implementation timelines, and legal framework is enclosed for Your Excellency's kind reference and action.
This representation is filed in the spirit of Article 21 of the Constitution — the Right to Life — which encompasses the fundamental right to clean water and a healthy environment. I also invoke the State's constitutional duty under Article 48A to protect and improve the environment.
I humbly request Your Excellency to treat this as a matter of urgent priority and convene a high-level technical committee comprising KSPCB, BWSSB, Minor Irrigation Department, and independent environmental experts to conduct a comprehensive water quality audit and prepare an actionable implementation plan within 90 days.
Thanking Your Excellency for your kind attention to this critical issue of public health and environmental justice.
Respectfully yours,
I respectfully place before Your Excellency a matter of urgent national importance concerning the water quality, agricultural safety, and public health of the people of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts in Karnataka — regions that have endured decades of water scarcity and are now receiving treated wastewater from Bengaluru through the HN Valley and KC Valley canal projects.
While these projects partially address the water crisis consistent with your vision under Jal Jeevan Mission and Nal Se Jal, reliable reports and ground surveys indicate that the water being distributed still carries dangerous levels of heavy metals, pharmaceutical residues, pathogens, and industrial pollutants. The current treatment infrastructure is demonstrably inadequate to fully neutralise the risks inherent to recycled urban wastewater.
The farmers of these districts — already among India's most economically vulnerable agricultural communities — are unknowingly irrigating their crops with contaminated water, risking both their harvests and their families' health. The long-term consequences include soil toxicity, reduced crop yields, food safety hazards, and escalating waterborne disease burdens — all of which directly undermine your Government's goals of doubling farmer income and providing safe water to every household.
I humbly urge Your Excellency to direct the Ministry of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, and Ministry of Agriculture to jointly mandate a Three-Layer Filtration System for HN Valley and KC Valley, with central funding support under AMRUT 2.0 and NRCP, and oversight by the Central Pollution Control Board and the National Green Tribunal.
This is not merely a regional issue — it is a test case for India's commitment to sustainable water reuse that will set a precedent for all states handling recycled wastewater for agriculture. A detailed project proposal is enclosed for Your Excellency's consideration.
Awaiting Your Excellency's gracious intervention in this matter of life and livelihood.
With deepest respect,
I approach Your Excellency with the deepest reverence and a profound sense of urgency on behalf of the suffering farming communities and the general public of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts in Karnataka, who face a silent yet devastating environmental and health crisis.
The HN Valley and KC Valley water projects, while born of noble intent, are currently delivering inadequately treated wastewater from Bengaluru into the agricultural fields, lakes, and drinking water sources of these drought-battered districts. The water contains measurable quantities of heavy metals, industrial effluents, pharmaceutical residues, and pathogens — silently poisoning the soil, the crops, the water bodies, and ultimately the bodies and livelihoods of thousands of farming families.
Madam President, the Right to Life guaranteed under Article 21 of our Constitution has been interpreted by the Hon'ble Supreme Court to include the right to a clean and healthy environment and access to safe water. The continued supply of contaminated water to these communities is a direct violation of this fundamental right.
I place before Your Excellency a humble petition for your constitutional intervention — requesting Your Excellency to direct the Central and State Governments to immediately mandate the implementation of a certified Three-Layer Filtration System for both valley projects, establish a high-level monitoring committee, and ensure compliance with CPCB and WHO water quality standards before agricultural distribution.
Your Excellency's compassionate and timely intervention will not only protect the health and livelihoods of over one million citizens of these districts but will also uphold the constitutional promise of a clean and dignified life for every Indian farmer.
With the highest respect and hope,
I submit this urgent representation on behalf of the farming and residential communities of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts, Karnataka, regarding a serious and ongoing environmental and public health concern arising from the HN Valley (Hebbal-Nagawara Valley) and KC Valley (Koramangala-Challaghatta Valley) water canal projects.
These projects divert treated wastewater from Bengaluru city into agricultural distribution networks serving thousands of farmers in both districts. While the intent is beneficial, independent water quality data and farmer testimonials indicate that the treated water continues to carry contaminants including heavy metals, biological oxygen demand beyond permissible limits, coliform bacteria, and industrial chemical residues — in potential violation of CPCB's effluent standards for irrigation use and the requirements of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
Key Concerns Requiring Regulatory Action:
A comprehensive Three-Layer Filtration System project proposal with technical specifications, cost estimates, and implementation timeline is enclosed for your reference. Immediate regulatory action is respectfully requested to prevent irreversible environmental and health damage to these districts.
Requesting urgent attention and action,
I submit this representation on a matter of urgent public importance concerning the quality of water being distributed through the HN Valley and KC Valley canal projects to the agricultural and residential areas of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts.
The water flowing through these canals originates from Bengaluru's sewage treatment infrastructure. While treatment is provided, the current level of treatment is inadequate to ensure the water meets the safety standards prescribed by CPCB and BIS for agricultural irrigation (Class D) or safe drinking water recharge. Farmers in these districts are unknowingly using contaminated water, leading to measurable deterioration in soil quality, crop abnormalities, and increasing disease burden in the community.
Specific Requests to Each Department:
This matter has constitutional, environmental, agricultural, and public health dimensions requiring coordinated inter-departmental action. A detailed project proposal for the Three-Layer Filtration System is enclosed for reference and action.
Requesting your urgent attention and coordinated action,
I reach out to each of you with urgency and respect, as the elected representatives and guardians of the farming communities and residents of Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts.
The constituents you serve — the farmers who toil in the fields, the families who drink from wells and borewells recharged by valley water, the children who will inherit this land — are in need of your voice and your action today.
The HN Valley and KC Valley water projects were conceived as solutions to the water crisis your constituencies have faced for generations. But today, these canals are distributing water that scientific testing and farmer testimonials confirm is insufficiently treated — carrying heavy metals, industrial pollutants, and microbial contamination that are slowly poisoning the very land and people they were meant to save.
What we ask of you:
Your voice in the Assembly carries the weight of democratic mandate. The people of Kolar and Chikkaballapur need champions who will ensure that the water reaching their lands and homes is clean, safe, and life-giving — not a slow poison.
The Three-Layer Filtration System project proposal is enclosed. We humbly request you to study it, champion it, and demand its immediate implementation through every platform available to you as elected representatives.
With deep respect and hope in your leadership,
I place before Your Excellencies a matter of national significance — the health, safety, and economic security of the farming communities of Kolar and Chikkaballapur, two constituencies that are part of one of India's most water-stressed regions.
The HN Valley and KC Valley water projects, which redirect treated sewage water from Bengaluru to these districts, have provided partial relief from water scarcity. However, scientific data and ground-level evidence firmly establish that the water currently being supplied contains dangerous contaminants including heavy metals, pharmaceutical residues, pathogens, and industrial effluents — at levels that pose serious risks to soil health, food safety, water bodies, and public health.
This issue transcends Karnataka. As India scales up wastewater recycling and reuse under the National Water Policy, the treatment standards and monitoring frameworks applied to such projects become a national policy matter. The failure to ensure safe treatment of recycled agricultural water sets a dangerous precedent for the entire country's food security and environmental health.
We respectfully request Your Excellencies to:
A comprehensive project proposal for the Three-Layer Filtration System — with technical details, cost estimates, legal framework, and expected impact — is enclosed herewith for Your Excellencies' reference.
The farmers of Kolar and Chikkaballapur have waited long enough. They deserve water that nourishes — not poisons. Your voice in Parliament can make that difference.
With deep respect and confidence in your commitment to the people,