BENGALURU: Kundanahalli Lake in Whitefield, which was earlier a dumping yard for construction debris and garbage, now has a sewage treatment plant of 280 kilolitre a day (KLD) capacity. GE Healthcare along with United Way, a non-profit organisation, rejuvenated the lake with the financial aid by the BBMP.
After an initial capital investment of Rs 1 crore, GE has also committed to maintain the STP for two years. After an initial survey of the lake, it was inferred that the inlets were filled with sewage water and the regular contamination had led to formation of silt, reducing the water storage capacity in the 30-acre lake.
Munesh Makhija, CEO, GE India Technology Centre, said, “GE volunteers are excited about this project as the water level of the lake has increased by 6 inches within the last 8-10 months, which in turn has improved the local flora and fauna. This is a shining example of how a small, yet impactful, project can make a huge difference.”
To prevent open-defecation, six toilets have been built, including one for the disabled, for the slum dwellers near the lake. The highlight of the project is that the STP uses cow dung as a treating agent to clean the sewage water and letting clean water into the lake.
Mr Manish Michael, CEO, United Way of Bengaluru, said, “We are currently driving the campaign, ‘Wake the lake’, as we work on 16 lakes across the city. We are happy to have supported the design of this first-of-its-kind, eco-friendly STP as part of the restoration process.”
The BBMP has also come forward to support further development of the lake by committing itself to invest in its cleaning. It has built a fence around the lake to prevent further dumping of construction debris and garbage. There are plans to transform the surroundings of the lake by planting 5,000 trees.
