For the local residents, the stench has been unbearable for the last few days.
The area near Varthur Junction on Whitefield Road has been teeming with commuters and visitors for the last three days, after the lake was seen frothing with toxic foam.
People are coming to the site to click pictures of the polluted lake that is also causing traffic jams around the place. However, the visitors are unable to stand near the culvert for more than a few minutes because of the foul smell emanating from it.
Taking notice of this, The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is also set to issue a notice to Bangaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for not taking measures to prevent the flow of sewage into Varthur Lake. For the local residents, the stench has been unbearable for the last few days.
Speaking with iamin, Suresh Gowda, a resident of Varthur said, “It is a common sight to see the lake frothing this way during monsoon or whenever heavy rains lash Bangalore city. But, this time the foam has spilled on to the street, posing as a rick to motorists, especially two-wheeler riders.”
Dr Vaman Acharya, chairman, KSPCB, talking with iamin said that the BWSSB authorities had earlier made tall claims of constructing a sewage treatment plant at the site, which has not yet been completed. “I am aware of the pollution of Varthur Lake and it is the BWSSB which has to be blamed for it. The BWSSB have to take measures to prevent the flow of sewage from nearby apartments and other areas into Varthur Lake,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, MA Khan, principal, KK English High School, said a team of students who were part of the school’s Eco Club had submitted a memorandum to Karnataka Upa Lokayukta Subhash B Adi, when he visited Varthur Lake last month. They mentioned about the poor quality of water in the lake and the illegal encroachments near its banks.
“The members of Eco Club had conducted a survey of borewells within one km radius of Varthur Lake. They found heavy metal and high concentration of phosphate in the borewell water. They also found the bacteria, E-coli in the water collected from three borewells. The residents have been using this water for drinking and cooking, which can be extremely harmful to them,’’ said Khan.
Dr AN Yellappa Reddy, an environmentalist, said the froth spewing from Varthur Lake was due to the washing detergents and sewage that is regularly dumped into the water body. “The BWSSB have to take measures to prevent the flow of sewage and other waste materials from nearby residential apartments into the lake. The pollution has already lowered the oxygen in and around the water body and aquatic life is getting affected,” he said.
Meanwhile, CK Shivanna, chief executive officer, Lake Development Authority (LDA), said that he was aware of the pollution of Varthur Lake but could not do anything since it does not come under the LDA jurisdiction. “We can advise the BWSSB and BBMP on how to prevent flow of sewage into the lake and how to maintain it, since we are only an advisory body,’’ said Shivanna.
For the original version of the report, click here
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