Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Aug 17: The Bellandur Lake is spewing toxic foam once again. Residents as well as motorists who have to cross the area are having a tough time, wading through the froth that is almost 10 metres high.
Due to heavy rains in Bengaluru in the last few days, the water level increased leading to a sudden increase in frothing. Blankets of foam covered the streets and the neighbourhood.
Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), the custodian of the lake, had earlier been pulled up by the National Green Tribunal. The BDA was working on weed removal in the lake, installed coir foam mattresses and even deployed high-power pumps to remove the foam. Yet, there seems no need to the frothing issue.
The highly-polluted Bellandur Lake, the largest of the 262 lakes and tanks in Bengaluru, has spilled toxic foam many times in the recent past and on several occasions the toxic foam also caught fire. Varathur lake in Bengaluru also has the frothing issue. Experts have established that the frothing in the lakes is due to the discharge of sewage water containing household detergents.
On April 19, the NGT directed immediate and complete shutdown of 76 polluting industries around the lake after a mound of garbage was set on fire in February this year leading to massive pollution in the area.
Indian Institute of Science Faculty TV Ramachandra, who has conducted extensive research on Bengaluru lakes told a newspaper that there is no solution till bureaucracy is reformed. “There is no will to rejuvenate lakes, and every move is thwarted because of those who refuse to accept that there is a problem,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Delhi about the frothing lakes in Bengaluru, chief minister Siddaramaiah said government is taking all necessary actions. When pointed out about it being a long standing issue, he said "it is there...it will be solved in one or two years."
The statement from chief minister has come at a time when the National Green Tribunal (NGT) today reportedly pulling up the state government regarding the pollution of thelake and asked it to submit compliance report on its earlier direction, on August 22.