Bengaluru's lakes turn into sewage pools

Bengaluru's lakes have always been plagued with issues of pollution. Now a report in Deccan Herald states that more than 40% of the sewage from homes in the city is flowing into the lakes making them sewage pools. 

The Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is reportedly able to treat only 720 million litres per day (MLD). However, Bengaluru generates about 1,240 MLD of sewage on a daily basis. 

Dr Arbind Kumar Gupta, Save Bengaluru Lake Trust, has told the daily that the BWSSB has not managed the underground drainage (UGD) system and sewage treatment plants (STPs) properly. 

Meanwhile, Thippeswamy, a former BWSSB chief engineer, has stated that low-quality pipelines are the reason why the excess flow of sewage is not being able to be managed. Additionally, the change of land use pattern with multiple-house concept has added to the city's sewage woes. Thus, the storm water drains full of sewage are now creating an environmental hazard.  

Ramakrishna SM, BWSSB chief engineer (waste water management), has said that some new projects have been initiated. Twenty new sewage treatment plants will be set up in the city and this would take about four years. Additionally, 110 villages will reportedly get sewage treatment plants in the state and this will be funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.