Dysfunctional aerators key cause for Ulsoor lake's woes

 Ulsoor Lake, one of the city’s prime water bodies continues to be in poor condition even as monsoons are round the corner.

Though Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials claim that there are no dead fish in the lake, ground reality is different. Scores of dead fish can still be seen floating in the lake, opposite the apartments.

The oxygen aerators which were installed to help increase the level of dissolved oxygen in the lake artificially are not functioning. They are chocked with garbage and silt. The area around the lake emits a strange stench, which has made walks around the water body difficult for local residents. The BBMP officials admit that the oxygen aerators installed in 2003 have not been working.

One of the reasons for fishkill was absence of dissolved oxygen in the lake. This happened not only because of pollutants but also due to non-functional aerators, said BBMP officials. The BBMP is planning to call for tenders for to instal new aerators, each costing Rs five lakh.
BBMP Executive Engineer, in charge of the lake, A Venkatesh said, officials visited the lake on Tuesday. The height of the wall at the centre of the lake has been increased so that polluted water does not mix with the clean water in the boating and fishing areas. It will take another 2-3 months to revive the lake. Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has sought Rs four crore for construction of an STP at the lake.