KSPCB plans to keep UGD lines away from lakes

KSPCB plans to keep UGD lines away from lakes
Deccan Herald

Faced with public criticism on repeated incidents of mass death of fish in Bangalore lakes, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is planning to recommend shifting of underground drainage (UGD) systems surrounding all lakes.

The KSPCB has directed all utility providers -- Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board and urban local bodies (City and Town Municipal Councils) around Bangalore -- to furnish details on the existing underground drainage system around lakes.

Pipeline network

“After studying the pipeline network, we will direct utility providers to shift them wherever it is found necessary,” KSPCB Deputy Environment Officer Syed Khaja Mohiddein told Deccan Herald.

Thousands of fish died recently in Vengaiahnakere in K R Puram and Ulsoor lake in Bangalore Mahanagara Palike limits due to contamination of water.

In both incidents, it was found that large amount of sewerage water from nearby residential areas had mixed with the lake water, leading to mass death of acquatic life.

Mr Mohiddein said in Vengaiahnakere, K R Puram CMC had left the outlet of a big sewerage line to the lake. “When water gets contaminated, oxygen level in the water immediately drops below the minimum requirement of 4 mg per litre. Here (Vengaiahnakere), oxygen level had come down to 1.6 mg,” he added.

Low oxygen level

Similarly, oxygen level had come down substantially in Ulsoor lake also due to discharge of contaminated water into it. This, despite the BWSSB’s claims of having shifted all sewerage lines that were running along the lake as part of the BMP’s Lake Rejuvenation project.

Hence, the KSPCB decided to draw up a long term action plan to prevent flow of effluents into lakes. “Burgeoning population has made the task of civic agencies to check flow and leakage of sewerage out of drainage systems tough. This being the situation, it was decided to keep all sewerage lines away from lakes,” he added.

In fact, a recent study by the KSPCB has revealed that 90 per cent of lakes in the Bangalore metropolitan region are contaminated and there is free flow of sewerage into them. The number of lakes in Bangalore has dwindled from 262 in 1976 to just around 80 today.

No clue

Interestingly, none of these utility providers had exact information on existing drainage system around lakes, especially those coming under CMC and TMC limits.

This is because there is no proper underground drainage system in these places and, as a result, waste water is let out recklessly into shoulder drains and storm water drains nearby that ultimately flow into lakes in the neighbourhood making them unpalatable to humans and animals, officials said.