Residents, experts sound alarm bells for Jakkur lake

In the wake of the frothing Bellandur and Varthur lakes, the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and local residents have sounded the alarm bells for Jakkur lake, which is the biggest living lake in the City.

Residents with the help of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the IISc are constantly monitoring the lake. Sewage is entering the water body from the Kogilu side and they are pressing for improving the capacity of the sewage treatment plant at the lake.

Prof T V Ramachandra from the Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc, said though the lake has been restored, some amount of sewage is still entering it from the Kogilu side, where there are many residential localities.

Presently, the levels of dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand (BOD) and nitrate levels in the lake are at the brim. It can increase any time if immediate attention is not paid. This is a warning sign for the government to address, he opined.

The lake is spread across 160 acres and IISc calls it one of the best in the City. The BWSSB installed a 10 MLD sewage treatment plant but it manages to treat only eight MLD. Jalaposhana, a citizens’ group from around the lake, signed a MoU with the BBMP in May to undertake lake maintenance. However, the basic infrastructure and security is provided by the BBMP. The lake is home to a large number of migratory birds. It had made headlines due to a fish kill episode.

Dr Annapurna Kamath, a member of Jalaposhana, said it is observed that sewage enters the lake during heavy downpour and the colour of the water changes in every season. There are three storm water drains which feed the lake from Yelahanka, Agrahara and Shivanahalli.

There is a sewage inlet from the Kogilu side. Presently the lake is barely fine. KSPCB, TERI and the BWSSB are monitoring the lake quality. Help is needed to improve the lake and increase the capacity of the STP for better conservation, she said.

BBMP Executive Engineer Ravindra said there was no problem at the lake currently. “However, we along with the BWSSB and KSPCB officials are constantly monitoring the lake. We will check the water quality and take appropriate measures.”