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Sewage water flow stalled Bellandur lake revival: CAG

Glory of Citys largest lake far from being restored; Rs 1.91 crore goes down the drain
Last Updated 25 March 2012, 19:27 IST

Despite spending Rs 1.91 crore, the rejuvenation of the Bellandur lake has been halted midway, states a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.

After the State government’s nod, the Bellandur lake, which is spread across 900 acres and is the largest in the City, was to get a facelift.

Though the lake rejuvenation project has received Rs 5.54 crore from the National Lake Conservation Plan (NLCP), so far only Rs 1.91 crore has been utilised towards the revival of the lake.

The report, a copy of which is in possession of Deccan Herald, has blamed the Lake Development Authority (LDA) for its inability to stop/divert the inflow of sewage into the lake that has resulted in rampant growth of weeds.

The report says that the project for restoration and conservation of Bellandur lake was sanctioned in January 2003 and was slated for completion in August 2004. 

The LDA, which is the implementing authority of the project, allocated the work to a contractor after taking upon itself the responsibility to stop and divert sewage away from the lake.

However, the LDA failed to stop sewage from entering into the lake, the report stated. According to BBMP officials, 400 to 500 million litres of sewage are let into the Bellandur lake every day.

“As a result, the lake proved non-conducive for bio-remedial treatment. In April 2005, the contractor, who was entrusted with the task of reviving the lake, complained against the continuous flow of sewage into the lake. Also, experts from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) attributed the project’s failure to the discharge of untreated sewage directly into the lake,” the CAG report said.

The LDA, in April 2006, decided to suspend the project till flow of sewage into the lake was stopped. Also, it decided to go in for arbitration over the contract. The LDA later decided to seek the opinion of the Law Department and challenge the arbitral award in the High Court. In the process, the LDA decided to suspend the project, till the Master Plan for sewage treatment in the catchment areas of Bellandur lake was implemented.

“The unspent amount of Rs 1.81 crore (Centre’s share Rs 1.25 crore and State’s share Rs 0.56 crore) is lying with the implementing agency since January 2005,” said the CAG report. This hints to embezzlement of funds allotted for the project.

Sources said the Bangalore Development Authority has now called for a Detailed Project Report for the revival of Bellandur lake. 

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(Published 25 March 2012, 19:27 IST)

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