Study finds contaminants pushing Subramanyapura lake to extinction

The Subramanyapura lake will be relegated to history if the government agencies and other stakeholders do not take measures, both immidiate and long-term, to stem the rot, said a report prepared by a firm on behalf of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

Despite a strong-worded summary with detailed investigation of the lake water, none of the government agencies woke up to realise the pathetic state of the water body, which is covered by water hyacinth and weeds due to the unabated flow of sewage from the apartments nearby.

In the summary report, Dr Mamatha S N, technical manager of the Robust Material Technology Private Limited, which conducted a study of the lake, wrote, “Bad levels of dissolved oxygen, biochemical oxygen demand and increasing trend of nitrates and phosphates render this water extremely unusable for any criteria defined by the KSPCB.”
She added, “Microbial contamination is observed in all the eight borewell samples collected at different locations in the lake vicinity. The water of the borewell classified into RED category and considered as unfit for drinking.”

She concluded her report saying, “It is concluded from the study that the Subramanyapura lake is in serious need of an environmental rescue. This can be attributed to the discharge of domestic and other anthropogenic activities in the catchment areas of the lake. Lack of proper management strategy will eventually lead to the loss of the lake.”

She emphasised that measures must be taken to find a lasting solution to prevent the lake from further pollution.

The report blames the Bangalore Development Authority, which is the custodian of the lake, for not doing enough to improve it. And the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, which has stalled the sewage diversion work midway despite availability of funds. As a result, the sewage is still flowing into the lake.