Bengaluru: Lokayukta forms joint panel to rejuvenate city's lakes

Bengaluru: Following a complaint filed by United Bengaluru on city’s lakes, Lokayukta Justice Vishwanath Shetty on Tuesday formed a joint committee to coordinate and work towards rejuvenating all the lakes in Bengaluru.

The committee will comprise officials from the BBMP, BDA, KSPCB, Minor Irrigation and Revenue departments and BWSSB. They have been instructed by the Lokayukta to meet regularly and to discuss steps needed to rejuvenate lakes. The committee has also been told to submit the status report to the Lokayukta. Members of the committee will be assigned by heads of respective departments and the list should be shared with the Lokayukta.

Mr Suresh N.R., convener, United Bengaluru, said, “The common practice of diverting untreated sewage from upstream lakes to lower lying lakes without a proper system of treating the sewage has resulted in a free flow of sewage across the city and into our lakes, creating a public health crisis. What Bengaluru needs is a comprehensive citywide lake rejuvenation plan. We urge both the BBMP and BWSSB to treat the sewage before releasing it into lakes and ensure only rain water is allowed to flow into storm water drains.”