Vrishabhavathi -The Dead River

 

Vrishabhavathi -The Dead River

We want to divert Netravathi, Sharavathi and even Mahadayi rivers from their natural flow and feed the people unnatural way. But what are we doing to save our own rivers which originates in namma Bengaluru. We have already  killed  our rivers and now why are we killing living natural resources.

Vrishabhavathi, the river whose origin is through near the Dakshinamukha Nandi Tirtha or the Kadu Malleshwara Temple in Malleshwaram and it flows through major areas like the Guddadahalli, Bapujinagar, Raja Rajeshwari Nagar, Kengeri. The river can be seen near the Mantri Mall Malleshwaram, Magadi Road and Mysore Road metro stations. An interesting fact about the river is that it culminates in a reservoir named after itself Vrishabhavathi Reservoir . It joins Arkavathy River near Kanakapura as a tributary.

Vrishabhavathi is nicknamed “Kengeri Mori” (Mori being drain in Kannada), while Google Maps identifies the river as Vrishabhavathi Nala! The river was once so pristine that the water from it was used for drinking and used by the famous Gali Anjaneya temple

As these names suggest, the river has been the carrier of all sorts of industrial toxic waste and domestic waste water for the past few decades now. Sometimes, the Pattanagere bridge crossing is blocked with solid waste during rains, causing the river to overflow and scatter all the plastic waste and dirt on the roads. The entire area gets dirtier and the smell is intolerable.

Shockingly, the river water is said to be treated at the Vrishabhavati sewage treatment plant in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, but the treated water gets equally polluted as it reaches Pattanagere, at a mere distance of about 1.5 km. Due to the detergents and untreated industrial effluents dissolved in the water, a lot of foam is generated. Most of it being alkaline in nature, the river flow causes it to froth and this can be seen across the Mysore Road. Especially, the Kengeri Falls at Jayaramdas stop after RVCE is a sight to behold!

Surprisingly, those residents who complain about this problem are the same ones who wake up early morning to empty their garbage cans into the water. Despite RVCE students making an effort to raise awareness among the residents, Vrishabhavathi is still considered as their very own dump yard. Our brief interaction with the people living on the banks of this river was disappointing too. This was not just a dump yard but a paradise for rag pickers. What a shame!

There was a time when people took bath, washed clothes and frolicked in the Vrishabhavathi river. However, the grim situation we face today spells doom for our future. Ignoring a serious issue like this is like living in an illusion; I feel ending this illusion is the first step towards making a difference.

 - Vishal