The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is all set to revive the Soladevanahalli pumping station, the first-ever water pumping station that was set up in 1896 to supply piped water to Bengaluru from the Arkavathi.
This is a 128-year-old heritage structure that has fallen into disuse. The then Diwan of Mysore State K. Seshadri Iyer oversaw the installation of the station in Soladevanahalli to supply water after Bengaluru reeled under a famine between 1875 and 1877.
The BWSSB now plans to revive the pumping station, following which water from the Hesaraghatta lake will be treated there and pumped to the water storage unit at MEI Layout, and from the unit water will be supplied to parched areas through tankers. Efforts are on to prepare the station for restoration by April 20.