WHY THIS LAKE STINKS

WHY THIS LAKE STINKS
ATUL CHATURVEDI


The Ulsoor lake has remained polluted despite its water being drained and the bed cleaned some years ago. The reason is not far to seek. BBMP Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena attributes it to a sewage line passing through it.
Meena, who visited the lake on Tuesday, found that the BWSSB had let a sewage line into the lake near the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) gate. The BBMP chief pulled up his officers and asked why they allowed it. The officers, however, were left gaping as they had no answers to his questions.
MEENA’S FIAT
Meena asked his officials to write to the BWSSB ordering it stop sewage flow into the lake. The response was almost instantaneous. As soon as he issued the order, the BWSSB stopped the flow of sewage water.
The BBMP chief also ordered his officers to commence desilting work near the lake. He said the work should be done in a manner that does not affect regular walkers.
“There should be no bad smell in the lake. Rain water can flow from the storm water drain into the lake, but sewage water should not be allowed to mix with lake water,” he added.