George for clear water in Bellandur, Varthur lakes

Bengaluru Development Minister K J George on Wednesday said the government will soon initiate steps to rejuvenate Bellandur lake.

He told reporters that directions have been issued to BBMP, BWSSB and BDA to implement recommendations made by an additional chief secretary-headed committee, set up by the government, on rejuvenating the lake. A committee headed by the BDA commissioner will soon be set up to oversee the rejuvenation work, he added.

The minister said steps will be taken to stop the flow of sewage water into the lake and weeds will also be cleared. The owners of all residential apartments located close to the lake will be asked to set up sewage treatment plants (STPs). The BWSSB, too, will set up a STP near the lake.

Sub-committees, comprising local residents, will be set up to ensure that the lake is not polluted again, he added.

Steel flyover issue
On the controversial steel flyover, George reiterated that the government will go by court direction. “The government’s intention is to ease the traffic flow between Basaveshwara Circle and Hebbal. The project has been designed as per the recommendation of an expert committee,” he added.

At a meeting of the top officials from the Urban Development Department and the city’s civic agencies, George said the government will implement the expert committee report on rejuvenation of these lakes.

George vowed that the most polluted water bodies --- the Bellandur and Varthur lakes --- will have crystal clear water during his tenure.

The meeting was attended by Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development Department) Mahendra Jain, BDA Commissioner Rajkumar Khatri, BBMP Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad, former BBMP commissioner Siddaiah and the officials of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB).

The expert committee headed by Mahendra Jain, had visited the two lakes and had held at least 10 meetings, before preparing the revival plan.

The committee has recommended weeding, installation of sewage treatment plants (STPs), aerating and ramp construction to minimise the inflow of sewage into the lake. It has suggested that the measures have to be implemented by civic agencies like the BDA, the BWSSB and the BBMP, in a coordinated manner.

The minister suggested installing hidden cameras at various locations and formation of lake protection groups by involving local citizens to check indiscriminate dumping of garbage, debris and pumping of industrial effluents. Regarding encroachment of the two lakes and their buffer zones, George directed the Revenue officials to act against the culprits and remove structures on the lake land.

As a short-term measure, the committee has also suggested regular harvesting of macrophytes which helps curtailing nutrients’ accumulation. The long-term measure includes setting up of the STPs and one-time cleaning of the lake, especially removal of accumulated silt and development of both the lakes, as secondary water supply source for Bengaluru.
DH News Service

‘I don’t use cash’
Bengaluru Development Minister K J George said he stopped using currency notes 17 years ago and that the Centre’s decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes has not affected him.

“I have been using cards for my financial transactions since 1977. All my transactions are done either through cards or cheques. So demonetisation has not affected me,” he stated upon seeking his reaction on the issue.

He, however, said the Centre’s decision has affected common people as they are dependent on currency notes for all transactions.