Despite concerns over water quality, the Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) has approved the drilling of 25 new borewells to tackle the ongoing summer water crisis. In a recent general body meeting, the proposal was cleared to address water shortages in several areas of the city.
The Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (KUIDFC), which monitors drinking water quality every three months, reported that water from 790 out of over 850 government borewells in Belagavi is unfit for consumption. Tests were conducted for 21 parameters in line with Central Public Health Engineering Organisation norms, revealing issues such as high salinity, fluoride levels, and discoloration.
Nevertheless, the BCC has allocated Rs 80 lakh for the new borewells and plans to supply water through pump sets in various localities, particularly in northern Belagavi. Currently, drinking water is provided once every seven to eight days in many wards, with the 24-hour water supply scheme operational in only 10 out of 58 wards.
Water supply to the city from Rakaskop and Hidkal reservoirs is managed by Larsen & Toubro (L&T). L&T’s manager, Ravikumar, stated that water is being delivered via tankers from the existing borewells and challenged claims that all borewell water is unsafe. He noted that low chlorine content increases bacterial risks, but clay-rich groundwater is still usable in some areas. He also warned that direct water supply from reservoirs to over 28 gram panchayats could pose risks as well.
Mayor Mangesh Pawar assured that water from the new borewells would be tested before distribution, and that water tankers would continue to serve the worst-hit areas. He emphasized that addressing Belagavi’s drinking water issue remains a top priority.
