Bellandur lake beginning to show some signs of improvement

But sewage inflow into water body still a worry

From a distance, heaps of weeds lying next to Bellandur lake, resemble a green hillock. Excavators and harvesters work overtime to remove weeds and silt from the lake, which has been reduced to a cesspool, receiving 60% of the city’s sewage.

Almost two months after the cleaning of the lake began, signs of improvement are quite visible. As the lake started breathing fresh air, water hyacinth has started to dry up, which is an indication that the pollution level is coming down.

The frothing at Bellandur-Amanikere waste weir has reduced drastically. This is where a fire had erupted due to a chemical reaction, compounded by the huge accumulation of garbage. However, foam continues to pose a problem on the other waste weir near Bellandur gate.

"There is improvement in the lake. The wheels of our harvesters too are acting as aerators, due to which the oxygen level in the water has increased. We believe that by December end, weeding will be complete,” said an executive of Harvins Engineering, the firm cleaning up the lake.

The firm has employed four harvesters, three excavators including the one mounted on a pontoon. Once the weeding is completed, desilting would begin, said the executive. Along with it, two aerating machines will also be employed to induce oxygen in the water. As the water is now visible with the removal of weeds, fishermen living nearby have started fishing in the lake.

Though the pollution level has reduced drastically, the inflow of sewage continues to pose a challenge. Little effort has been made to stop the flow of sewage, said a field officer of Harvins Engineering.

“As long as the flow of effluents into the lake continues, weeding may not have much impact. Water hyacinth would once again grow rapidly. The STPs have to be installed at the earliest,” said an officer.

Disposal of weeds
Another big challenge associated with cleaning of the lake are the huge mounds of water hyacinth and other weeds, which have not been cleared for want of space.

BBMP joint commissioner (solid waste management) Sarfaraz Khan said: “The BDA (custodian of Bellandur lake) had agreed to use the weeds as compost for the horticulture department’s farm on the outskirts of the city. If that has not been done, then we have to chip in.”