Civic bodies defy KSPCB directives on making lakes pollutant-free

Neither civic agencies nor private entities seem to be taking the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) seriously in ensuring Bengaluru’s lakes are free from pollutants. This is evident as the KSPCB has complained to the Karnataka Lokayukta that civic bodies haven’t obeyed its directives.

Starting January 2014, the KSPCB issued a set of directives to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), the Lake Development Authority (LDA) and the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Sewerage Board (KUWSSB). It also served about 50 notices on private entities like apartment complexes and industries. But nobody seems to be falling in line.

A disaffected board wrote to the Lokayukta a few weeks ago. “The KSPCB issued directions under section 33(A) of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, to the BWSSB, the BDA, the LDA, the BBMP and the KUWSSB in March 2014. In spite of monitoring and repeated persuasion, none of these organisations has compiled with the directions and there is no proper co-ordination for proper implementation of measures suggested.

“Hence, the board has now decided to file criminal cases under the Water Act against the BWSSB.” The letter also states that under the said law, the KSPCB has filed 108 cases against industries, four against the BWSSB and nine against local bodies.

Some of the directives issued by the KSPCB were: do not discharge untreated sewage or polluting matter into any waterbody; stop dumping of municipal solid waste and all other forms of waste; stop illegal entry of sewerage from all sources; undertake cleaning of waterbodies; take action on entry of polluting matters into waterbodies; prohibit sanctioning of buildings or apartments or townships or residences and other activities generating sewage and formulate vigilance squad within respective departments with necessary powers to monitor the issues effectively.

S Shanthappa, KSPCB Member Secretary, told Deccan Herald that besides issuing the directives, the board held four meetings with the civic agencies to monitor lake quality, colour and other issues.

“But the results were limited. This is because with the present infrastructure, civic bodies are unable to manage the huge quantity of effluents. Our regional offices too keep issuing notices to private and civic organisations. Watchdog committees, involving local people, have also been formed to ensure proper maintenance of lakes in the City,” he added.