While tributaries of Cauvery river have been abused by domestic, industrial and medical dumping to such an extent that it now stinks, water hyacinth is slowly strangling the Tungabhadra river. Its rapid growth has led to aquatic life facing a challenge to survive. We know that both of Karnataka’s major rivers, Cauvery and Tungabhadra, have been sapped by unbridled growth and industrial pollution. But what is less known about these rivers is that they are not just overexploited along their banks, but also threatened at the very points of their origin in the Western Ghats which, despite receiving the highest rainfall in Karnataka, are unable to sustain the rivers that flow down their slopes. For the past few years, several taluks in this rain-rich region and the primary catchment areas of rivers have been declared drought-hit. While the inflow of fresh water has diminished, the discharge of effluents from the industrial townships has only increased. When the Indian Institute of Science researcher TV Ramachandra said two years ago that Bengaluru would become unlivable by 2020, he was denounced as an alarmist. But fellow researchers believe that the prognosis is dire enough even if 2020 does not spell Armageddon for Bengaluru. That’s a forecast for several other towns along Karnataka’s exhausted rivers. Some experts say the only way out is to look for hyper-local solutions. Or in other words, save the lakes and harvest the rain. Karnataka’s most polluted rivers Arkavathy Bhadra Bhima Cauvery Ghatprabha Kabini Kagina Kali Krishna Lakshmantirtha Malaprabha Manjira Shimsha Tungabhadra Source: National River Conservation Directorate Saving the otters Among the wildlife directly affected by the degradation of rivers are the otters. The part of Tungabhadra that flows through Hampi dividing Koppal and Ballari districts has been declared as India’s first otter sanctuary. The 34km long stretch is now a protected area for otters. But the dwindling fish count has affected its population. Indrajit Ghorpade of the Deccan Conservation Foundation says an action plan is required to manage the otter sanctuary. The river is the lifeline of the two drie st districts. It’s important that the quality of water is restored. There have been attempts to use water hyacinth in making furniture and artifacts . We are looking at working with the Health Depar tment, district admins of Koppal and Ballari, Tungabhadra Board and Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority to clean it up.