Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore   

A polluted river is this hamlet's lifeline

By R. Chandrakanth

Bangalore Sept. 30. Unlike the northern parts of Karnataka where drought stares one in one's face, the issues at K. Gopahalli in Ramanagaram taluk, 50 km. from Bangalore, where a farmer, Ramakrishnaiah, committed suicide on September 11, are different. Although rains have failed here too, the lands are cultivated with water from the Vrishabhavathi river, which carries sewage from Bangalore.

This has thrown up a peculiar problem here: the crop yield is considerably lower as the water is contaminated. The farmers have switched over from paddy and sugarcane to fodder, and taken to animal husbandry in a big way. But that has not got them out of the clutches of moneylenders who charge up to 15 per cent interest on a monthly basis.

One of the main problems in the village is drinking water shortage. G. Krishnappa of K. Gopahalli says that villagers have various health problems, and representations to various authorities have fallen on deaf ears. Today, at the behest of the media team which was visiting K. Gopahalli to cover the Congress President, Sonia Gandhi's visit to the village, the people submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner, B.P. Kaniram, who assured them that the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board would rectify the problem of water contamination, and ensure drinking water supply to the village.

Mr. Krishnappa says that as the crops are affected due to the water pollution, animal husbandry has become the main livelihood, and the village supplies about 1,000 litres of milk a day at the rate of Rs. 8.50 per litre. "To buy cows, we have to take loan at high interest rates, and most of the money that we get from selling milk goes towards loan repayment,'' he adds. The village has a population of 519 with 108 families. It is reported that most families have taken crop loans of a total of Rs. 15 lakh this year. The village accountant says that while the land cess has been waived for the villagers, the Government has to collect water cess, and the dues are to the extent of Rs. 5 lakh for three years. "We cannot collect water cess now as these people are facing severe problems, but we will have to collect it some day,'' he adds.

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