KSPCB gives apartment dwellers near lake 1 month to set up STP

Acting stern, the Karnataka Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has given one month’s time to the residents of apartments in the upstream of Subramanyapura lake to set up a sewage treatment plant (STP).

In the wake of frothing in Subramanyapura lake recently, KSPCB served notices on all the polluters.

At a meeting with the polluters and various civic agencies on Wednesday, KSPCB chairperson Lakshman directed them to instal and make the STPs operational.

He said a joint inspection comprising officials of the Central Pollution Control Board, State Pollution Control Board, BWSSB, BDA and BBMP will be conducted a month later.

KSPCB officials told Lakshman that many apartments had either not obtained or renewed the consent for operation of their STPs. He threatened to register criminal cases against them if the STPs were not installed or they do not work properly.

The Board officials recommended that the polluters should be made to instal a common STP at a cost of Rs 5 crore for the damage caused to the tank. Environment officer Anil Kumar said, “These polluters have caused immense damage to the lake. Let them pay for it by bearing the cost of a big STP.”

BBMP’s deputy conservator of forests Jagannath Rao, who is in charge of lakes in south Bengaluru, apprised Lakshman of the plans to improve the lake. He, however, expressed helplessness in undertaking the work till a slum there is cleared.

The Karnataka Slum Development Board officer told Lakshman that residential quarters comprising 882 units for slum dwellers around Subramanyapura Lake was nearing completion and would be ready for occupation in three months.Lakshman took the officer to task for not completing the project even after eight years of starting it.