<p>The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), which has been working for months to install sluice gates at the polluted Bellandur and Varthur Lakes, on Saturday, conducted the first trial-run to check froth at the lake. Surprisingly, the trail yielded positive results with hardly any froth at the exit point of the lake.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Confirming the positive results, BDA assistant engineer S S Aravind said, “We did not see any frothing during the test. In fact, the froth is generated when the polluted water flows through an obstruction. But in still water, it is almost difficult to see any froth. During the trial, we allowed the water to flow at the ground level beneath the sluice gates that drastically reduced the churning movement of water. Hence there was hardly any froth,” he explained. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“Once we complete installing sluice gates at the outlets, we will conduct a full-fledged and final trial-run. That will take a few months,” he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">BDA had floated tenders for the Rs 22-crore project at both the Bellandur and Varthur lakes in December 2017. While installation of sluice gates at Bellandur Lake was progressing, it got delayed at Varthur Lake due to work on the bridge, claim BDA authorities.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The deadline for the first trial-run at Varthur Lake passed last week but the BDA kept its word in Bellandur Lake’s case. The authorities were citing reasons of delay in material supply and non-cooperation by labourers,” said Jagadish Reddy, a member of Varthur Rising group.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Aravind said that the construction of the weir at Varthur is still under progress. “The timeframe to complete the project is one year according to tender conditions and the BDA still has a few months left. We should be able to conduct a trial-run at Varthur Lake in a month or two,” he said.</p>
<p>The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), which has been working for months to install sluice gates at the polluted Bellandur and Varthur Lakes, on Saturday, conducted the first trial-run to check froth at the lake. Surprisingly, the trail yielded positive results with hardly any froth at the exit point of the lake.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Confirming the positive results, BDA assistant engineer S S Aravind said, “We did not see any frothing during the test. In fact, the froth is generated when the polluted water flows through an obstruction. But in still water, it is almost difficult to see any froth. During the trial, we allowed the water to flow at the ground level beneath the sluice gates that drastically reduced the churning movement of water. Hence there was hardly any froth,” he explained. </p>.<p class="bodytext">“Once we complete installing sluice gates at the outlets, we will conduct a full-fledged and final trial-run. That will take a few months,” he added.</p>.<p class="bodytext">BDA had floated tenders for the Rs 22-crore project at both the Bellandur and Varthur lakes in December 2017. While installation of sluice gates at Bellandur Lake was progressing, it got delayed at Varthur Lake due to work on the bridge, claim BDA authorities.</p>.<p class="bodytext">“The deadline for the first trial-run at Varthur Lake passed last week but the BDA kept its word in Bellandur Lake’s case. The authorities were citing reasons of delay in material supply and non-cooperation by labourers,” said Jagadish Reddy, a member of Varthur Rising group.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Aravind said that the construction of the weir at Varthur is still under progress. “The timeframe to complete the project is one year according to tender conditions and the BDA still has a few months left. We should be able to conduct a trial-run at Varthur Lake in a month or two,” he said.</p>
