House panel seeks protection of rivers

BANGALORE: The petition committee of the Karnataka Legislative Council submitted report on the protection of Arkavathy and the Kumudavathi rivers, main sources of drinking water to the Tippagondanahalli reservoir, to the Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy on Friday.The Committee Chairperson Vimala Gowda, who is also Deputy Chairperson of the Council, submitted a 24-page report which highlighted the dire need to protect the two rivers.  The Committee members visited the dry-bed of the two rivers and reportedly recommended the State government to take actions to remove the large scale encroachment on both the banks of the rivers. Refusing to divulge the contents of the report, Vimala Gowda, however, said that the Committee, during its investigation, also met the veteran ecologist Rajinder Singh of Rajasthan and included many of his recommendations in the report.She also admitted the findings of the Committee including large scale encroachment on the rivers’ banks.Speaking after receiving the report, Council Chairman D H Shankaramurthy said that the report would be placed before the House soon. The Legislature session is scheduled to begin from December 5.  “After allowing the debate on the report, it will be sent to government for taking further action,” Shankaramurthy stated.