Rain after-effect: Heavy foam in dirty Subramanyapura lake

Friday night’s rain in southern Bengaluru led to heavy frothing in Subramanyapura lake which is already on the verge of extinction due to unrestrained dumping of raw sewage from nearby apartment blocks.

A six-foot-high layer of foam appeared in the lake’s waste weir on Friday night and Saturday. The foam from the highly contaminated lake stretched to the middle of the road and was carried into the air by a thunderstorm. Office-bearers of the local BHCS Layout Residents’ Welfare Association said the civic agencies’ “complete neglect” of the lake had led to its pathetic condition.

Pradeep Rudrapatna, an officer-bearer, said the lake had pristine water until six years ago but was now full of weeds due to sewage. “The tank bund next to the waste-weir was damaged just a few years ago. Rainwater no more stays in the lake. It has become a big septic tank for the mega residential complexes nearby,” he said.

Rudrapatna said the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had drawn an action plan of Rs 1.10 crore for diverting sewage from the lake. The BBMP and the BDA deposited their share of funds with the BWSSB, but the water board is yet to complete the work even after four years, he added.

The association members said they had made representations to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) but to no avail. When contacted, KSPCB chairperson Lakshman said he was aware of the problem and had directed his staff to look into the matter. “Our officials have visited the lake and taken water samples. We are serious about saving this lake,” he said.

BBMP Chief Engineer (Lakes), B V Sathish, said the civic agency had taken over the lake from the BDA and got funds sanctioned by the state government. “We will develop this lake. The work will start in November,” he said.
DH News Service

Drain water enters slum
The heavy rainfall gave a sleepless night to residents of Srirampura slums in Thurahalli as water from a nearby stormwater drain gushed into their homes. Blame the poor planning of the BBMP.

Engineers in its stormwater drain division linked the major stormwater drain to the shoulder drain next to the slums. As a result, the shoulder drain was clogged and the water from the stormwater drain entered the homes. Slum dwellers said the blame would lie on the BBMP if any untoward incident happened and any child fell into the overflowing shoulder drain.