Mandya: A controversy has erupted over the proposed Bengaluru Water Supply Stage VI project after a private agency allegedly carried out soil testing inside the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) reservoir premises without obtaining permission from the Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Ltd (CNNL), triggering protests by farmers on Tuesday.The private agency, engaged by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for the project, brought drilling machinery into the KRS backwaters on Monday and Tuesday to conduct geotechnical investigations and collect soil samples, sources said. The exercise came to light only after CNNL officials, including an assistant executive engineer (AEE), visited the spot to verify the activity.Officials found only personnel from the agency at the site, no BWSSB officials was present. CNNL sources said no permission had been granted for soil testing, and local irrigation officials were unaware of the exercise. No permission was granted for vehicles to get inside, they added.Security lapses exposed The incident has also exposed alleged security lapses at KRS reservoir, particularly in the backwaters region, where inadequate fencing has resulted in multiple unauthorised entry and exit points allowing heavy machinery to enter the premises without detection.The soil testing forms part of the preliminary work for the proposed Bengaluru Water Supply Stage VI project, which seeks to draw additional water from the KRS reservoir to meet Bengaluru’s growing drinking water need. Farmers in the Cauvery command area have opposed the proposal fearing it will reduce water availability for irrigation.
