Arkavathi had origins in the Nandi Hills. After a journey of 190 kms
around Bangalore it joined the Cauvery at the Sangama in Kanakapura
district. Vrushbhavathi was a tributary of the Arkavathi. Arkvathi had
a
catchment area of 4351 sq. kms from where it collected water.
Both Doddaballapura and Ramanagara depend on Arkavathi, not to mention
numerous villages. In 1894 Bangalore first ran out of water from within
its boundaries. Then they built two reservoirs on the Arkavathi - the
Hesaraghatta reservoir(1894) and the Thippagondanahalli
reservoir(1933). Even to this day Arkavathy supplies 20% of Bangalore's
water supply.
Like the rest of the peninsular rivers, Arkavathy was never a
Brahmaputra. During summers, Arkavathy would reduce to a trickle. Yet
was a time
when, even in summers, you could get water at 4 meters below ground in
any of the 30000 wells in its basin. Now there is no river even in the
rainy season. But now,
Arkavathy is dead. Maybe not, but Arkavathi is atleast in coma.
