BWSSB plugs leakage at STP, checks flow of sewage into Jakkur lake

Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials on Monday plugged leakages at the sewage treatment plant (STP) which was the main cause of sewage water entering Jakkur Lake and leading to huge fish kill last week.

On the other hand, the Bangalore Development Authority has been planning to rope in experts to remove sewage water already accumulated in the lake.

B Jairam, Deputy Conservator of Forests, BDA, told Deccan Herald that his team along with BWSSB officials visited the lake on Monday.

“The BWSSB has plugged the leakages. Naturally it will take 15-30 days for the stagnant sewage water in the lake to get cleared. In order to speed up this process and to reduce the stench we are planning to use some chemicals. We will also take the help of experts so that lake's natural flora and fauna is not affected further,” he said.

Prof T V Ramachandra from Centre of Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, said that using chemicals would not be the right solution.

“Instead, sewage should be removed gradually from shallow sides. The algae in the lake will gradually clean the sewage. Macrophytes and water hyacinth should be removed the lake. These have made the lake anaerobic,” he said.

He said that he would visit the lake along with his team for assessing the situation and chalking out solutions. “We are ready to help BDA officials any time if they contact us,” Ramachandra said.

Jakkur Lake was filled with dead fish last week as the sewage which entered the lake, contaminated the water body. Sewage from Kamakshamma Layout, Surabhi Nagar, Marthamma Layout, Maruthi Nagar, Kullapa Extension, Yelahanka old town, Vidhana Soudha Layout and surrounding areas was entering the lake, spread across 164 acres.

This was posing health hazard to people in the vicinity because of the foul smell. The lake was home to many migratory and local birds. Their population has also been affected - while some have died, many have moved to other lakes in Bengaluru north.