Hyacinth swamps Ulsoor Lake

Bengaluru: Even though the officials of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) claim that there is no possibility of the sewage water entering the main section of Ulsoor Lake  since layers of rock filters have been put, the reality is different. 

Water hyacinth and poly bags have been dumped not only at the entry point but also near the pathway of the lake.    

Pointing at the sewage water and the water hyacinth, a home guard official on the condition of anonymity said, “There is hardly any cleaning of the lake. The construction of the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is in progress.”

With a sound of despair, he further added that the home guard officials at the lake are paid once in two months. 

On the issue of the further development on the STP at the lake, S.M. Ramakrishna, Chief Engineer with the BWSSB Waste Water Management Department said, “We need another three months to complete the setting up of the STP. However, other than the entry point of the lake, cleanliness is maintained at the lake.” 

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the BWSSB have together pitched for the plant and Rs 4 crore was allocated for sewage diversion. 

KSPCB Chairman Lakshman is of the view that the work will be completed by the end of August. He told Deccan Chronicle, “By the first week of August, civil works will be completed. We have received the clearance of decanter and aerator. Chlorine contact tank excavation and concreting of the foundation with the cement have already been done. We can expect the STP to be commissioned by August end.”  Apart from broken fences, which have become entry points for the pedestrians to use the lake as a toilet, an unfinished walkway has been built that has no stairs on either side to climb.

Talking about the repercussions if the water is not cleaned, water expert Kshitij Urs said, “The fish kill incident can be repeated if the water is not cleaned. Moreover, the government should come up with white paper for each lake so that public would know about the developments taking place.” 

Experts believe that if the sewage water is diverted without treatment the ramifications would be huge. 

“Diverting sewage water from one lake to another kills the lake. Bellandur Lake paid the price of diversion. Diversion is not the solution, treatment is,” added T.V. Ramchandra, another water expert. However, Lakshman made clear that the diversion would take place only after the treatment of the sewage water. "After the treatment of the sewage water, part of it will be utilised for gardening and rest will be left in the lake," he added.