Conserve lakes, they are fast dying

Conserve lakes, they are fast dying
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Perhaps the most significant environmental problem and threat to public health is inadequate access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities.

Added to it lakes, a most essential feature of Bangalore, are dying a slow death. Industrial waste and sewage have created an emergency situation for the lakes.

Once called the City of Lakes, many of these water bodies today have different lakes. Many lakes of Bangalore have taken new shapes including Bus stands and commercial complexes and the existing ones are slowly being encroached.

However, the increased awareness about conserving the water tanks in Bangalore, many lakes are being re-formed. The Lake Development Authority (LDA) has constituted a scheme for the protection of lakes in and around Bangalore called Lake Adoption Policy.

According to Syed Khaja Mohiddin, Deputy Environment Officer, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, “Few lakes situated on the out skirts of Bangalore still receive a part of sewage water. Tanks, which are bordering the Bangalore Mahanagra Palike (BMP) areas.

“In order to keep lake water clean we breed fish Common Carp (Cycrinus Cartio) and Catla. The fish clear the debris, human excreta and live even in little less than 4 milligrams of dissolved oxygen in the water. Other fish die if the oxygen level decreases below 4 mg.”

“The city lakes need around 1,000 fish for one acre of tank, where as the lakes in rural areas need 500 fish per acre of water. The city lake water contains more waste which is nothing but the food for the fish,” he adds.

Rajeev Kumar, Founder CEO Project Agastya says, all the lakes in and around Bangalore are artificial tanks.

“There is no water flow in to the lake as most of the storm water drains are polluted. The lakes should be protected as they generate moisture in air and provides cooling effect in the environment,” he adds.

An LDA official says the adoption of lakes will help the authorities in maintaining standard in City lakes.

“Any residential organisation or any trust can adopt a lake in Bangalore. They should develop the lake under their banner. Six lakes have already been adopted. This project will help in controlling lake encroachments,” he added.