JOIN USThe unbridled influx of the toxins into the Varthur lake has resulted in the spilling of froth from the water body on to the road.
While the stench emanated from the foam has made the lives of people living near there miserable, it is also obstructing the movement of traffic near the Varthur waste-weir. With the flow of wind, the poisonous froth is floating everywhere.
Residents fear that the froth may lead to skin and respiratory diseases, besides offering a breeding place for water borne and vector borne diseases.
Commenting on the accumulation of foam and the stink, M A Khan, Principal of K K school, said: “The smell is an indication that it is hydrogen sulfate and the foam is not because of any detergent soap but due to the phosphate getting into the lake. The urine content is so high that the phosphate in the urine turns into the foam.” Citing his students’ study of Water sampling analysis, Khan said: “At many places in the lake, the Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels are almost zero.”
Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO, Namma Bengaluru Foundation, said: “Contaminated water flowing from Agara and Bellandur lakes are also adding to the already polluted Varthur lake. There is an estimate of 500 Million liters per day (MLD) of untreated sewage coming into and flowing out of Varthur lake. What you now see is remnant of the problem. There has been higher levels of foams."
He squarely blamed the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for the sorry state of the lake. He said, "BWSSB should be held accountable for the poor condition of the lake,"
Member of Whitefield Rising, Elangovan Elan said the contamination of lake is hazardous to the bikers as it obstructs their movement and also perches on their body.
He rued that the quality of water in Bengaluru is worse than the villages. He complained that the polluted water is giving rise to many diseases.
Sympathising with the economically weaker section, he observed: "Poor people are suffering more than anyone."
Manohar, resident of Varthur Kodi, observed that the amount of foam has increased in the last six months. He was also worried about impact of the polluted water on people's health.
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