JOIN USThe Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has said it would not be able to take up development of Bellandur lake and tackle frothing because it had no financial resources.
The civic agency has also stated that any such proposal has to be placed before the BDA Board and the government for approval, without which work cannot be taken up on Bellandur lake.
BDA commissioner Sham Bhat told Deccan Herald on Thursday: “BDA has already written to the government that it has no financial resources to undertake development of 33 lakes it was told to handle.
“We have developed 12 lakes so far and work is going on in nine other lakes. Beyond that, we won’t be able to take up development of the 12 other lakes because of lack of financial resources. So, how can we take up development of Bellandur lake under these circumstances?
“In any case, BDA has not yet received any direction and order on Bellandur lake to undertake the work. If it comes, we will place it before the BDA Board. Depending on what the board says, we will take up appropriate work,” Bhat added.
Board approval
Even if the BDA Board approves it, the government, primarily the Urban Development department, will take a call on the issue.
“We don’t know whether the thinking is the same between the BDA Board and the Urban Development department. So, everything depends on the approval and who is giving the approval,” a senior BDA official, who didn’t want to be named, said.
Bellandur lake is perhaps the biggest in the City, spread over 834 acres.
Environmental officers from the State Pollution Control Board say there are many households around lakes using detergent which goes untreated into the water bodies, leading to frothing.
The pollution control board has formed a six-member committee for lake protection which will check maintenance and operations of sewage treatment plants. The board is also in the process of forming vigilance and watchdog committees on lake management.
At a recent meeting with the officials of the BDA and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the pollution control board suggested that BDA fence the lakes so that froth does not fly. They were also told to smoothen water flow in the lakes to check future frothing. Whenever there is heavy rain, most lakes start frothing due to high contamination.
While the pollution control board seems to think that it has the authority to direct BDA, the BDA itself has to propose any new development and action to the BDA board which has a BBMP member on it. BBMP is aware of the issue and will have to take action, senior BDA officials said.