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Stench, sewage seize Siddapura Lake

Civic inertia leaves the waterbody unfit for fishing or irrigation.

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Have you ever come across a waterbody in the city where sewage water has been flowing unabated for more than a decade? Siddapura Lake near Thobaralli is a classic case of neglect by civic authorities.

Sewage water from thousands of dwellings at BEML Layout, ASC Layout and various apartments has been flowing into the Siddapura Lake for many years, but no effort has been made by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and BBMP authorities or even the elected representatives to prevent it.

The layout was formed by BEML Cooperative Society as per the Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA) guidelines. It was maintained by the BDA till 2006 and later handed over to the BBMP. All the houses have underground drainage facility, but BWSSB authorities have not made provision for sewer lines.

"We have paid Rs55 lakh to the BWSSB to make a provision for carrying out the sewage water to a distant place and for supply of Cauvery water in the area. They have collected the money and conveniently forgotten their responsibility. We have even allotted an area of 10,000 sq ft to the BWSSB for an exclusive office for this area," said Shijo Francis, president, Spandana, BEML 6th Stage Residents' Welfare Association.

Many residents complain that the authorities concerned have been neglecting the area for many years. Even asphalting of roads was taken up after a gap of 10 years.

"We have to be thankful to MLA Limbavali, who was instrumental in asphalting a few roads in our area," Francis said.

With sewage water flowing into Siddapura Lake, it has become unfit for fishing. Earlier, the BBMP used to generate revenue by inviting bidders for fishing at the lake.

"My uncle had to incur huge losses, when a lot of fish died due to pollution. He used to pay `60,000 to the BBMP per year. Now, the water is not suitable for aquaculture," said Manjunath.

B Murali, assistant executive engineer, BWSSB, said that laying of the main sewage pipe has been assigned to a contractor but he could not expedite the work, though it commenced in 2010.

"The contractor was assigned to lay a 92-km sewage pipe, but he has so far done only 20 km. We have asked the government to take action against the contractor for not completing the work in time," said Murali.

As if this was not enough, a shrewd builder covered the raja kaluve (storm water drain), near Sai Paragon Meadows apartment with cement pipes and levelled it to facilitate the trucks to carry building materials.

"This area gets inundated with sewage water whenever the drain gets blocked with weeds, which come along with the water when it overflows from the nearby Kundalahalli Lake during monsoons. I have complained man a times to the BWSSB authorities to mitigate our problems, but in vain,'' said a farmer who owns agricultural land near BEML Layout.

However, corporator of Doddanekkundi ward, NR Sridhar Reddy, said that the government has decided to blacklist the contractor for not completing the work on time.

"BWSSB plans to float tenders again shortly for this purpose. I expect the process to be completed within three months. I will put pressure on authorities to take preventive measures to reduce pollution in the Lake," Reddy said.

R Gurumurthy, environment officer, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, said that he had filed cases against BEML Residents' Welfare Association and BWSSB engineers over the issue.

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