Dead fish float in lake

Dead fish float in lake

Two firms situated along the Kariobanhalli lake have been identified as the culprits and a notice has been issued by the KSPCB.

The TImes of India

Bangalore: Hundreds of dead fishes have been floating on the Kariobanhalli lake for the past one week. This, thanks to the 500 industries along the Peenya Industrial estate and residential complexes in the Peenya industrial belt which dump their industrial and domestic waste into the lake.

Two companies — Multilink — situated along the periphery of the lake have been identified as the culprits. A notice has been issued by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to both the companies for indiscriminately dumping industrial waste into the lake without treating it.

Neither the death of fishes nor the government offices’ apathy towards such issues is new. Be it at the Puttenahalli lake, Nallurahalli lake and K R Puram tank since last year. Neither the KSPCB, the Lake Development Authority (LDA) nor the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is ready to take any action.

“It’s the LDA’s job to take care of the lakes,’’ argued a KSPCB official. The LDA, however, passed the buck to BWSSB. “What can we do? The BWSSB should ensure that the sewage drains do not spill over into the lakes without treatment.’’

The chunk of the polluted waste along with the domestic sewage generated at Peenya Industrial estate, Chokkasandra, Peenya second and fourth stage, Jalahalli cross and Dasarahalli residential area flows directly to the three lakes Shivpura, T Dasarahalli and Kariobanhalli. This has resulted in the aqua life of the two former lakes being reduced to nil. When asked, officials blamed the monsoon.

“Because of clouds, the activity of algae is diminished, so is the oxygen level. When it rains, huge amounts of sewage enters the lakes. The decay and decomposition of organic matter also consumes dissolved oxygen,’’ the LDA official said.

The companies said they did receive a notice. While Multilink received it on June 24, the Integrated Electric Company was issued the notice on March 8. “We have received the KSPCB letter,’’ said a Multilink official.