‘Lack of filtration exposed Lakshmisagara to pollution’

Streaming dirty water to a lake in the neighbouring district did not always spell trouble for the government.

In fact, when sewage water from Yelemalappa Shetty tank near KR Puram was opened to the Doddakere Lake in Hoskote, it reached the lake as clear water thanks to natural treatment that happened on the way.

The minor irrigation department diverted the water in 2012 through an area that had natural purifiers and obviated the need for a man-made Sewage Treatment Plant.

Former Minor Irrigation secretary P N Srinivasachary said the project was taken up to increase the groundwater level in Kolar and surrounding areas where wastewater would flow in a natural course for 8 km and fill the Doddakere Lake.

Thanks to the natural purification process, the clear water helped fill tanks while also improving the groundwater situation.

Srinivasachary noted that treated water flowed from K&C valley to Lakshmisagara lake without any natural filtration process on the way.

"I saw the K&C valley project till Kolar,” he said. “Unlike Doddakere, the natural flow is missing and was impossible due to the gradient of the flow.”

He said the BWSSB should have been careful in pumping treated water and should have checked their STPs. “I'm not sure if there is any bifurcation made to separate Bellandur lake water from the treated water," he added.