Bengaluru: Smoking Puttenahalli Lake, a ticking volcano'

Bengaluru: After fires at Bellandur and Varthur lakes, Puttenahalli Lake started bellowing smoke on Sunday, shocking the residents, while environmentalists blamed heavy discharge of untreated sewage and accumulation of harmful gases for the smoke.

When sewage starts decaying, bio-methane gas gets accumulated and when it comes in contact with an inflammable object, fire starts, environmentalists explained.

“It’s like a volcano ready to explode. Large quantities of bio-methane gas accumulated on the lake floor pose a threat to the lake and people living in the surroundings.

Any inflammable material that comes in contact with the gas causes a disaster and this is what is happening across Bengaluru and not just in Puttenahalli Lake. The bio-methane gas accumulation is as deep as 40 feet in many lakes,” said Dr A.N. Yellappa Reddy, a former environment secretary.

Experts have found a way to prevent such fires in lakes and to earn revenues by tapping the bio-methane gas. “Raja Vijay Kumar, a technologist, who runs a research centre in Bengaluru, had presented a plan to the authorities.

All developed countries use technology to extract the gas and prevent fires in lakes, but our officials are not serious,” Mr Reddy said.