Bengaluru’s Lifeline Under Threat: AAP Launches Mass Movement to Save Tippagondanahalli Reservoir

News Flash

24 June

AAP’s Sitaram Gundappa Announces Symposium on June 28 to Warn Government as Buffer Zone Shrinks, Illegal Mining and Sewage Choke Bengaluru’s Historic Arkavathi River Source

Bengaluru: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has raised a red flag over the shrinking buffer zone and environmental degradation of the Tippagondanahalli reservoir, Bengaluru’s vital water source situated on the Arkavathi River. In a bold call to action, AAP Karnataka President Sitaram Gundappa has urged all concerned citizens to join a state-wide struggle to save the reservoir before it's too late.

“There is both inevitability and dilemma in this fight. Tippagondanahalli has served Bengaluru for decades. It’s time for Bengaluru to serve it back,”
— Sitaram Gundappa, AAP State President

As part of this campaign, a symposium featuring renowned environmentalists, scientists, lake experts and civic leaders will be held on June 28 at the Akhil Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha Hall on Bellary Road. The event aims to issue a strong warning to the Karnataka government and demand immediate intervention.

Party leaders, including Anil Nachappa, Puttanna Gowda, Mohan Raj, Anjana Gowda, Joshua Sintu, and Karthik, were also present at the press conference, reaffirming support for the movement at the Press Club, Bengaluru

'Governments Loot Bengaluru, But Ignore Water Crisis,' Says Activist

Shashidhar Aaradhya, convener of the struggle committee, launched a scathing attack on successive state governments, accusing them of converting Bengaluru into a real estate jungle while turning a blind eye to its collapsing water ecosystem.

“All governments are looting Bengaluru by making it a real estate hub. But they have no intention of securing water sources for the future. This is environmental betrayal,”
— Shashidhar Aaradhya, Struggle Committee Convener

He detailed the grave threats currently facing the reservoir:

• Illegal sand and stone mining

• Discharge of industrial effluents

• Inflow of untreated Bengaluru sewage

• Open pit quarrying

• Improper solid waste dumping

• Monoculture of Nilgiri trees impacting biodiversity

Most concerning of all is the government’s decision to reduce the protective buffer zone from 500 meters to a mere 30 meters, an act Aaradhya described as "environmentally suicidal."

“This reckless buffer zone reduction will further pollute the reservoir, destroy natural rainwater inflow, and collapse the local ecology,”
— Aaradhya warned

Experts, Farmers, and Citizens Unite: June 28 Symposium to Spark Resistance

Bengaluru City AAP President Dr. Satish Kumar emphasised that the fight is not political but existential. AAP has partnered with farmers, environmental activists, water conservationists, and civic groups for this cause.

“This is about Bengaluru’s soul. Experts like M. N. Thippeswamy, Katyayini Chamaraju, Vishwanath, Simhadri, and Ramaprasad will join us in strategizing the way forward.”
— Dr. Satish Kumar, AAP Bengaluru City President

Party leaders, including Anil Nachappa, Puttanna Gowda, Mohan Raj, Anjana Gowda, Joshua Sintu, and Karthik, were also present at the press conference, reaffirming support for the movement.

AAP has pledged that this is only the beginning, and if government inaction continues, a larger public campaign will follow involving marches, petitions, and legal interventions.

What’s at Stake:

• Tippagondanahalli has been a key source of drinking water for Bengaluru

• The Arkavathi river ecosystem is collapsing due to urban encroachment

• Shrinking buffer zone may result in irreversible water and ecological damage

• Experts warn of biodiversity loss and rainfall runoff disruption

Join the Movement:

Event: Symposium to Save Tippagondanahalli
Location: Akhil Bharat Veerashaiva Mahasabha Hall, Bellary Road, Bengaluru
Date: June 28