Rs 100 crore for rejuvenation of Bellandur lake

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) will hand over Rs 100 crore to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to rejuvenate Bellandur lake, KSPCB new chairman Lakshmana said on Wednesday.

He made the announcement after inspecting the highly polluted Bellandur lake in east Bengaluru along with BWSSB officials.

“My priority is to develop Bellandur lake and we will take up the work in a phased manner. The fund to be granted to the BWSSB would be specifically used for the rejuvenation of this 800-acre water body. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will officially hand over Rs 100 crore to the BWSSB soon,” Lakshmana said.

He said the accumulation of froth in the lake was a result of the turbulence of contaminated water containing industrial effluents and sanitary waste. “As a temporary measure, the BWSSB will set up a concrete ramp to avoid turbulence and tackle the outbursts of foam. There are plans to set up two sewage treatment plants with a capacity of 60 MLD and 150 MLD in nearby places,” he said.

Promising to take strict action against industries which release effluents into the lake, Lakshmana said he would call a meeting of the officials from KSPCB and BWSSB to devise a plan of action to solve the issue related to Bellandur lake.

BWSSB chief engineer (Wastewater Management Zone) Ramakrishna S M said the board could not come up with sewage treatment plants in proportion to the growth of the City over the years.

A KSPCB official said funds would be allotted to the BWSSB for constructing three sewage treatment plants - estimated to cost more than Rs 300 crore - to treat sewage flowing into the lake. Funds will be released based on the progress made by the BWSSB, he said. On an average, the KSPCB collects more than Rs 11 crore annually from urban local bodies and industries as water cess. While in the previous years, more than 80 per cent of this money was given to the Central government, the KSPCB has now decided to give it to the BWSSB for constructing the sewage treatment plants.