Bengaluru: The ambitious KC Valley project, which was implemented at an estimated cost of Rs.1,300 crores to fill up the lakes of the Kolar district with treated water from Bengaluru city, is all set to go to drains.

A team appointed by the state High Court (HC), under the chairmanship of IISc scientist Prof. TV Ramachandra, found high levels of heavy metals in the water that was released to the Kolar lakes. The team submitted its report to the High Court on Friday.

It all started with a few Kolar residents, moving the High Court through a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging that the water released into the lakes was not treated properly and endangered the lives of the cattle and people, besides destroying the soil fertility. Based on the PIL, the HC had formed a committee to test the water samples. The samples collected from the Narasapura and Lakshmisagara lakes tested positive for heavy metals.

The report is expected to create an embarrassing situation for the state government and the locals are opposing the project stating that it is not good for the district.