Varthur Lake, one of Bangalore’s largest lakes, which once spread across 437 acres and irrigated farmland growing paddy, sugarcane, arecanut, bananas, vegetables and flowers, is in dire need of renovation.
Varthur Lake, one of Bangalore’s largest lakes, which once spread across 437 acres and irrigated farmland growing paddy, sugarcane, arecanut, bananas, vegetables and flowers, is in dire need of renovation. While the lake is being polluted with sewage water, it is also under threat from land sharks.
Official apathy in restoring water bodies is visible as the lake is infested with weeds. The polluted water also causes health hazards to residents of villages such as Varthur, Gunjur, Ramagondanahalli and Munnekolalu.
The lake is connected to other lakes in Bangalore. Water flows to Varthur Lake from Ulsoor Lake, Bayappanahalli Lake, Challagatta Lake, Belandur Lake, Doddanekundi Lake and Vibhutipura Lake (via Kundalahalli Lake and Chinnapanahalli Lake). Sewage from these lakes enter Varthur Lake, which empties into Pinnakini river in Tamil Nadu.
Ramegowda, an agriculturist from Varthur, says surrounding villages were dependent on the lake.
But now, the water is so polluted that people are afraid to approach it.
The lake has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other pests, and causes water-borne diseases.
“The government has promised to construct a sewage treatment plant (STP) at the lake for a cost of ¤4 crore to clean up the polluted water. But till date, no such plant has been set up”, said Ramegowda.
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) conducted a survey in 2009. “Officers come, conduct survey and go. But nobody is taking any step to prevent the sewage from entering the lake. If the government wants to protect the environment, they have to protect the water bodies,” added Ramegowda.
Various studies have been conducted to study the lake’s maladies. The Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences and Indian Institute of Science stated that the lake needs restoration through sustainable watershed management strategies, which include pollution abatement, catchment treatment, de-silting and educating stakeholders about conservation and restoration of lake ecosystems.
Varthur taluk panchayat’s former president Ramakrishna says the government has not done anything for the lake’s development.
“If the government or the department that maintains the lake doesn’t take any action to prevent sewage from entering the lake,
then we will definitely take up a massive protest against the officials”, added Ramakrishna.
A local leader from Varthur said that the BBMP recently had conducted a survey and fenced the lake. “But the officers have not conducted the survey properly. In order to facilitate encroachers, they have fenced the lake, sparing buildings that have encroached upon the lake. A re-survey of the lake boundary has to be conducted,” he said.
Varthur corporator S Uday Kumar said: “The lake can be converted into a tourism spot by introducing boating and developing parks and playgrounds around it.”
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}