Work on reviving sick Bellandur lake to begin in three months

BDA plans to set up aerators, instal sewage treatment plants

Work on rejuvenation of Bellandur lake is likely to start in the next three months. MLA N A Haris, who is a member of the legislature panel on lake encroachment told Deccan Herald, “Within three months, work on improving the lake will start. Sewage treatment plants (STPs) will be set up. The boundary is also being fixed. The condition of the lake has not deteriorated suddenly but has happened over a period of four decades. Everybody should come together to save the lake.”

Haris is also the chairman of the legislature panel on STPs. KSPCB chairman Lakshman, BDA, BBMP and Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA) officials visited Bellandur lake on Friday to inspect the area that caught fire on Thursday.

BDA engineer member Nayak said they have already called for expression of interest to start work on cleaning the lake, after which desilting will start.

Lakshman said he had directed the BDA to start work in three months and not take eight months, as they have demanded. “Aerators will be set up by BDA to start with at the earliest. Also, short-term measures, recommended by the lake committee like clearing encroachments, installing STPs and weeding will start.”

KLCDA CEO G Vidyasagar said: “I assure the people that the lake will be improved in another six months. We are taking strict note of the condition. We are ready to help officials rejuvenate the lake.”

The proposal made by the Indian Army to help the state government in reviving the lake has come up again. While some officials including Haris said that they are not aware of it, some others said it was a good idea as the burden on government will reduce and the lake will also be saved.

Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO, Namma Bengaluru Foundation said: “The Water and Air Act gives enormous power to KSPCB to protect lakes and the environment. They should swing into action and conduct required tests to ascertain the cause and nature of the fire and direct authorities to take corrective action,’’ he said.

They should share these directions and the test results with Bengalureans at the earliest. It is the duty of all of Bengalureans to ensure these authorities comply with KSPCB directions and that KSPCB puts in enough preventive and corrective measures to protect the lake, he said.

He also demanded that the BDA come up with a time-bound, action-plan based on the recommendations of the Bellandur and Varthur lake rejuvenation expert committee report.

“Despite repeated attempts to prevent dumping of debris and garbage by citizens, there is rampant abuse of Bellandur lake by contractors. BBMP should ensure erring contractors are blacklisted at the earliest,” Pabbisetty said.