At sea over a lake in Lalbagh

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) contends that mixing of sewage water happens only when it rains heavily, but a reality check tells a different tale.

The small lake adjacent to the large lake receives water from the stormwater drain (SWD) on Kanakanapalya Road.  Along the stretch of the SWD, BWSSB has built another drain to let out water overflowing  from sanitary lines. These lines were found to be damaged when a Deccan Herald reporter visited the place on Tuesday. 

Although BWSSB engineers say that sewage water never enters the SWD, they did not rule out the possibility during heavy rains. The damaged portion of the drain was rectified and repaired by the BWSSB later on Tuesday. The problem lies along the entire stretch of the SWD. The BWSSB insisted that sewage water was not entering at the Lalbagh junction, the mixing was happening elsewhere along the stretch.

Cow dung 

“There are many dairy farmers in Kanakanapalya rearing cows; they directly throw cow dung into the stormwater drain connecting to the Lalbagh Lake.

Despite complaining many times about them to BBMP, no action has been taken so far,” said a BWSSB officer. Chief engineer Muniraju said he was worried more about raw sewage entering the stormwater drain.

Another BBMP officer said notices were issued to the dairy farmers, but throwing of cow dung had not ceased.

A series of renovation projects around the lake area has been taken up, including construction of a wall along the bund with boulders; desilting the lake; revetment of the tank bund; constructing of chain link and building of a silt trap at a cost of Rs 3.8 crore.

As part of the proposed master plan, the Dhanvantri garden is getting a facelift with shade grass being laid on an area of 23 acres in the coming months, at a cost of Rs 51 lakh.