CCTV cameras around Bellandur lake

The BBMP began work on installing surveillance cameras around Bellandur lake on Friday, two days after the National Green Tribunal cracked the whip on its clean-up.

The cameras will help catch and penalise those who dump garbage and construction debris in the 900-acre water body.

At a meeting on Friday, Chief Secretary Subhash Chandra Khuntia ordered the BBMP to fix the cameras right away.

He also ordered immediate action against encroachments on the lake.

Khuntia directed officials from the Urban Development Department, BBMP, Bangalore Development Authority, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority to show results within two weeks. The tribunal has sought an action-taken report by then.

Seven cameras will be installed now, and the number could go up.

“We are installing one camera near the Yemalur gate, and two in a field nearby. Two of these are 360-degree high resolution ones, and the third a fixed one,” an official said.
 
Khuntia told officials to put up boards warning people about the Rs 5-lakh penalty for waste dumping in and around the lake. The BBMP will have to clear the drains, and monitor garbage disposal in the area. He told the BDA, custodian of the lake, to speed up weeding and fencing.

P N Nayak, BDA engineer-member, said, “We will clear the weeds and hyacinth at the earliest. We will also coordinate with other agencies to maintain the quality of water.”

Khuntia told Bengaluru Urban district officials to clear the lake of all encroachments. 

They said seven of the 11 acres encroached had already been cleared. They will resume work to recover lake land on Saturday.

Vidyasagar, CEO of the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority, said polluters and encroachers were being identified.

“We have identified one already, and will slap a fine of Rs 5 lakh on him,” he said.

He said the ‘wetland model’ would also be used to clean the lake. “A detailed plan is being prepared,” he told DH.

Under the model, a bed of plants such as colocasia, typha and pandana is introduced into the lake. These have the ability to absorb nitrogen and phosphorus. The plants will be placed near the inlets where sewage enters the lake.

People living in the vicinity of the lake will be appointed honorary wardens.

“They will monitor the restoration of the lake and report dumping and encroachment. Their job will be to inform officials about any illegal activities,” Vidyasagar, CEO of the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority, said.

He urged citizens to use WhatsApp and email so that offenders could be caught and penalised quickly.  Officials said informants could be rewarded, too.

Sunandan Lala, technical consultant, PCI Gases, made a presentation to the BDA, BBMP, KLCDA and BWSSB on introducing dissolved oxygen into the lake.  “We have accepted his proposal and decided to give him a plot at the ‘Y’ junction towards Agara. He has offered a free demonstration for a month,” an official said.