George orders action against those dumping waste in lakes

Bengaluru Development Minister K J George on Friday expressed his displeasure over the rampant dumping of waste and debris in the city’s lakes.

The minister visited Nellurahalli, Siddapura and Sheelavantha lakes near Mahadevapura with MLC Rizwan Arshad, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) commissioner Rakesh Singh, revenue officers and senior engineers of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

Seeing the pathetic condition of these lakes, George directed officials to take strict action against the offenders including builders who pollute the lakes.

Residents living around these lakes complained that sewage and waste had made their lives miserable due to the stink and mosquito menace. They requested him to improve the condition of these water bodies.

George instructed the tahsildar of Bengaluru East taluk to conduct a survey of the lakes and fence them by June-end. He told the Palike and BDA officials to file police complaints against those polluting lakes.

Rakesh Singh apprised the minister about the progress in weeding in Bellandur lake and a similar action at Varthur lake. Singh informed him that the sewage treatment plant at Bellandur would start functioning from July.

He said he would ensure dumping at Varthur and Bellandur lake would be stopped with the help of BBMP joint commissioner Sarfaraz Khan and residents’ associations active in the area.

The residents of Palm Meadows in Whitefield complained to the minister that the delay in improving Borewell Road, Vibgyor Road and Narayanapura Road was causing them inconvenience. The executive engineer told the minister that the work on Borewell Road has already started with improvements to drains and laying footpaths.

However, land acquisition issues have hindered the developing of Vibgyor and Narayanapura roads. The signal-free corridor near Hope Farm too has hit a road block due to land acquisition.

The minister directed the BBMP special commissioner to issue a TDR notification soon and pave way for taking up work. Residents requested the minister to deploy the new mechanical sweepers in Mahadevapura, to which the minister agreed.