Bengaluru: After the BBMP announced that civic marshals (ex-servicemen) will monitor landfills and solid waste processing plants, water experts, like S. Vishwanath, have demanded a similar force to protect water bodies in the city.
“As there is no security and no one to question violators, majority of the lakes in the city have been reduced to dumping yards. Solid waste is dumped into the lakes indiscriminately in the night.
Also,we see biochemical wastes being discharged illegally, which is dangerous. Apart from affecting the lake ecosystem in the long run, it will turn dangerous for humans too.”
He said that there is no political will to protect lakes in the city even after the National Green Tribunal gave an earful to the state government for the mess it has created at Bellandur Lake.
“There is still no seriousness. First thing we need is physical boundaries along all lakes and the second thing is retired marshalls to guard them,” he said.
“According to the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA), there are 176 lakes in the city. If not for all, we need marshals for at least 50 sensitive ones which are very badly exploited and encroached upon,” he said.
“Kaggadasapura, Doddanekundi, Devarabeesanahalli, Vibhutipura, Arikere, Sarakki and the list of sensitive lakes goes on. Marshals are crucial to save the remaining lakes in the city,” he said.
