Bengaluru: Silt in Bellandur Lake worth Rs 15-16K crore

Bengaluru: Not only industries that have been blamed for the degradation of Bellandur Lake, but also the government that is often accused of allowing the industries to violate environmental norms now has a chance to undo the wrong. Coming out with an amiable solution, Mr T.V. Ramachandra of the Indian Institute of Science said that the government can take the help of industries to desilt Bellandur Lake, whose soil is rich in nitrogen, phosphorous and potash (NKP).

The high value of nitrogen in the silt can fertilise land of the size of Punjab, while phosphorous and potash can increase fertilise entire Uttar Pradesh and Telangana. “The economic value of the silt under the lake is around Rs 15,000-16,000 crore,” Mr Ramachandra said. The presence of heavy metals in vegetables grown downstream of the lake proves highhandedness of industries, he said.

“All these yearsm the government has maintained that it has no manpower and funds to desilt the lake. The industries which have polluted the lake have an opportunity to redeem themselves and they should clean the lake under their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes, which they keep boasting about,” he said.

“The amount of silt in the lake is seven million cubic metres. The fertility of the soil in Anekal is lost due to rampant sand mining in the area. If the silt is transported to agricultural fields, a lot can still be improved and undone,” he said. Levelling serious allegations against the government, he said, “There are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who have settled around the lake. Government keeps shifting them to conceal their identities. Politicians are only worried about their five-year term. These migrants segregate solid waste and dump organic waste into the lake.”