JOIN USSewer floods Madiwala lake areas again
Despite a separate enclosure constructed right next to the Madiwala lake to hold treated sewage water and flood water coming from Sarakki and Hulimavu, there was flooding in the areas around the Madiwala lake.
The 12-feet-deep and 10-acre-wide space in the south of the lake, built by the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA), has served little purpose. According to the Forest department, which is the custodian of the Madiwala lake, the lake is not flooding.
There is flooding in the adjoining areas such as Kodichikkanahalli, Bommanahalli and Hulimavu. “In fact, the Madiwala lake is nearly full to its brim and if the rainfall continues, then there could be a havoc. The new pond has four feet water and the lake has space for just one more feet of water,” a forest department official said.
Seema Garg, KLCDA chief executive officer said that the sewage line and stormwater drain are too narrow to carry excessive water and this has lead to flooding. We had written to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Road (BWSSB) around a month ago to speed up the work on cleaning and widening the drain. Now, we will write to them again,” she said.
A forest department official said the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has started the stormwater drain work and cleaning of sewage lines only a few days ago. Tenders were called about a month ago.
“The flooding is because there is no proper channel for water to flow. Kodichikkanahalli and surrounding areas are lower than the lake’s gradient, so water flows there instead of into the lake,” he explained.
Another KLCDA official asserted that lack of coordination between BWSSB, BBMP and KLCDA which has lead to havoc again.
“Officials were supposed to clear the sewage line next to the Madiwala lake, which has not yet been done. They are pointing fingers at the forest department and KLCDA, but we created a separate pond for excess water to flow, but the BBMP and BWSSB have not channelled it,” he added.
The KLCDA had created this pond under the guidance of Prof C R Babu of Delhi University.
Prof Babu is helping KLCDA create a biodiversity park at Madiwala, on the lines of the one on the banks of the Yamuna in the national capital. Officials and Prof Babu had then assured that the catchment areas would not be affected from excess water from Sarakki and Hulimavu and will not flood areas near the Central Silk Board.