Vanishing water bodies

Vanishing water bodies
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The lakes in the city are endangered - thanks to encroachments and pollution. Bangalore had 262 lakes in 1976 and today there are only 81. Of these, only 34 are live.

Even these surviving lakes are reduced to cesspools due to direct discharge of industrial effluents and unregulated dumping of solid wastes.

The Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bangalore Urban, A M Annaiah told this website’s newspaper that many of the surviving lakes could be encroached. He said that some were converted by BMP for residential or public purposes.

The Karnataka High Court had passed an interim order that directed not to make any grant or allotment of the land within BMRDA area in Aug 22, 1995. But layouts continue to be formed in this zone.

Some of the worst affected lakes are Vibhutipura, Hoskerehalli, Madivala and Jaraganahalli among others. The other few polluted lakes are Yediyur, Varthur, Ulsoor, Belandur and Rachenahalli.

Karnataka Lake Development Authority also looks after the lakes in the entire state and blames pollution for decaying of lakes in city areas. CEO of LDA B K Singh said that first the untreated sewerage needs to be arrested by BWSSB and BMP. Private participation could help a great lot, he said.

“We are receiving many agencies who are interested in adoption of lakes. But majority have shown a keen interest in lakes situated at the periphery than central areas because of the same reason. Who would like to take up polluted lakes,” Singh added.