Environment officer writes to BBMP chief, demanding action to save water body.
The BBMP had organised ‘Wake Up Clean Up Bangalore’, a weeklong event on waste management by spending lakhs of rupees in February at Freedom Park. The objective of the event was to create awareness about the importance of keeping the city clean by segregating waste at source. The BBMP made associations and trade bodies commit themselves to keep Bangalore clean.
However, the Palike itself is yet to pull up its socks in preventing the pollution of Sarakki Lake by garbage contractors. The pollution process has been continuing for many months and BBMP authorities concerned are aware of it.
Yet, no attempt has been being made to stop this pollution. Fed up with the lackadaisical attitude of BBMP officials, members of the Sarakki Lake Area Improvement Trust complained to the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
R Rekha, environmental officer, Bangalore City—South, inspected the location on May 24 and wrote a letter to the BBMP commissioner on June 6, stating that solid waste such as garbage and construction debris were being dumped at the Sarakki Lake bund and the segregation and loading of garbage was taking place near Sarakki Lake.
“The area is surrounded by residential buildings. As such, segregation of garbage at this location is unscientific and cannot be allowed... You are requested to look into the matter and direct the officer concerned to take necessary action to clear solid waste dumping at the lake bund and to avoid the illegal/unauthorised dumping of solid waste,’’ Rekha said in the letter.
When dna contacted the officer regarding BBMP’s response, Rekha said she had not received any response.
“I expect the BBMP commissioner to take suitable action,’’ Rekha said. The members of the Sarakki Lake Area Improvement Trust had written a letter to chief minister Siddaramaiah on May 24, requesting him to intervene.
According to them, the latest survey map shows 58 encroachments on the lake land in terms of residences, commercial buildings, schools, colleges, places of worship, etc, swallowing up two acres and 30 guntas of lake land.
“These are in addition to encroachments by unauthorised kuchcha roads that have come up around the lake in recent times. As all the agencies have conveniently turned a blind eye, there is uninterrupted traffic on this road. It will soon become a pucca road. Can these developments happen without the active involvement of land sharks and connivance of the government authorities?’’ asked R Jagannathan, former director-general of police and now chairman of the Sarakki Lake Area Improvement Trust.
Jagannathan said that the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board has to complete the sewage diversion project on hand, plan and implement a local sewage treatment plant to avoid drying of the lake in summer.
“We want the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to prepare a comprehensive detailed project report, complete the fencing work, plan and execute the restoration work on a time-bound basis. And, it should post a lake warden and security staff round the clock,’’ he said.
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