Notices issued to BWSSB, Apartments’ owners

Notices issued to BWSSB, Apartments’ owners
Deccan Herald

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has issued a show-cause notice to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) on the waste discharges into Kaggadaspura Lake


The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has issued a show-cause notice to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) on the waste discharges into Kaggadaspura Lake, besides slapping notices on more than 40 apartment complex owners’ association in Kaggadaspura (Ward 83).

The notice, issued by KSPCB to both BWSSB and the association on August 26, states that water discharged through underground drains (UGDs) is entering the lake. KSPCB has already set a deadline for the apartment complexes to stop discharging waste into the lake.

On August 8, a Joint Legislature Committee directed the KSPCB, under Section 24 of the Water Act, to furnish a report to the government with regard to land encroachments and pollution (caused by waste water) of the 82-acre lake. The KSPCB then formed a three-member committee to submit a report in this regard.

Too many flats

Hundreds of apartment complexes have mushroomed in the area with the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike generously issuing occupancy certificates to builders, and the BWSSB issuing licences to these complexes to let out their domestic waste into the lake, says KSPCB Regional Officer Lakshman.

Among the 40 apartment complexes that have been served notice, are Aishwarya Apartments (120 flats), Malnad Towers (64), Jana Jeevan Nivas (54), Sreeja Tanishq (56) and G R Agency (48). According to the KSPCB, these apartments have more number of flats than statutorily allowed, thus leading to heavy discharge of waste into the lake. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Mr Lakshman stated the BWSSB should have provided a garland drain around the lake, instead of building pipelines leading into the lake.

Missing links

He also said “missing links of about 800 meters in one stretch and 200 meters in another should be plugged by BWSSB within seven days”, failing which, a court case would be booked against the Board.

Lake Development Authority (LDA) Chairman B K Singh said the only way out would be to let treated waste into the lake. “If sewage let out into the lake is not controlled/treated, nobody can do anything about the lake. All lakes in the City have become sewage depositories, as their topography is such that the waste settles naturally into the bottom-most portion of the land,” he said.

MURKY SCENARIO

*More than 1,000 metres of UGDs to be provided by BWSSB

*Many apartment complexes have not paid the BWSSB for water and sewage connections, leading to many of them having illegal connections

*The lake belonged to the LDA and the Forest Department

*There are more than 100 apartments with Ground Floor plus three floors

*More than 30 apartment complexes in the area are now under construction