George sets 3-month deadline to take steps for lake's revival

Bengaluru Development Minister K J George has set a three-month deadline to take steps  for protecting Bellandur Lake from further harm. As  one of the immediate steps, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will fence the entire waterbody.

The decision was taken  at a meeting held by  George with officials of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and members of Bellandur and Varthur Lakes Group and Friends of Lake on Monday.  

The meeting deliberated on the actions to be taken by  government bodies to prevent fires like the one that ravaged last week.  

The minister promised to instal sluice gates around Bellandur Lake to check the entry of contaminated water. This apart,  smaller sewage treatment plants will be installed at  Iblur Lake and in Parappana Agrahara to treat sewage water.  

Bengaluru generates  1,400 Million Litres per Day (MLD) of sewage water. Of this, the BWSSB aims to  treat 1,060 MLD by the end of February. "We will publish a  list of all STPs in the city and their status on our website," BWSSB Chairman Tushar  Girinath said.

Steps to revive Bellandur Lake

* Boundary to be fully fenced.  

* Wetlands to be identified, cleaned and developed.    

* Lake wardens to be appointed.  

* Encroachments to be cleared.    

* A charter of authority and responsibility to be published.  

* Desilting.  

* Full-fledged solid waste management programme.    

* Illegal waste-processing units located in Bellandur lakebed to be shut down.  

* Aerators and fountains to be installed.  

* Regular harvesting of macrophytes from constructed wetlands.