Conspiracy theory floats after Bellandur lake burns again

Sunday’s fire in Bellandur lake has yet again caught the attention of locals and officials. While some officials maintain it was accidental, others say it was an act of arson.

Mahendra Jain, additional chief secretary, urban development department (UDD), said an inspection of the site indicates that it was accidental. “A case will be registered and the police will investigate. The fire broke out near the Bellur-Nagamangala bund side, where an STP has been set up,” he said.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has collected samples from the site. A detailed chemical analysis will be done to know the cause of the blaze, Jain said.

“There is a lot of dry grass around the lake. Many farmers come there to cut the grass. One of them may have accidentally thrown a lit cigarette, beedi or match stick, leading to the fire,” said P N Nayak, BDA engineer member.

Other officials question the theory. “The reason that locals set the grass on fire, anticipating fresh growth after monsoon, is usually given for such fires. If this is to be believed, farmers should set fire to grass wherever cattle feed on it,” said an official of the UDD.

Another official said locals were agitated and worried that they will lose their livelihood once the lake is revived. “They have done this to ensure the lake is not revived. They fear that once the weeds are cleared, their cattle will have nothing to feed on,” said the official.

The government is worried that the fresh fire in the 910-acre lake will bring bad publicity. “This time, if the National Green Tribunal (NGT) questions us, all facts will be placed before it with proof,” Jain said.

Sridhar Pabbisetty, petitioner in the NGT, said this incident will be reported to the Tribunal and the government will have to explain. “It shows negligence on the part of the officials. People are able to enter the waterbody because it has not been fenced. Encroachments are still there,”  he said.  Nayak, however, said fencing was being done. “Of the 12.5-km boundary, 4.5 km is near defence land. Fencing on the remaining length is being undertaken. We are planning to regulate the entry of people to the lake,”  he said.

The KSPCB has put out a list of industries and apartments which fall under the Bellandur catchment area on its website. Officials are inspecting the industries and apartments. Orders to close down the industries will be issued based on the inspection report.

R Venkatachalapathi, BBMP joint commissioner, Mahadevapura zone, inspected the lake on Monday. During his interaction with local residents, he was informed that the fire was seen at the lake in the past two days and that some miscreants might have set fire to grass there.