Bengaluru: Lake froths over, puts road users’ life in danger

Bengaluru: With rain and wind in full swing, the residents and commuters near Yemlur and Bellandur are facing a new problem. The foam and froth covering the Bellandur Lake are now spilling on the road and blocking the way for the commuters. In fact, many motorists have had narrow escapes on many occasions. DC takes a look.

Sustained inflow of untreated sewage due to the irresponsible BWSSB and the effluent from industries has contaminated the lake as the inflow of pollutants has surpassed the lake’s assimilative capacity. Froth formation at outlets, profuse growth and spread of marcrophytes are all indicators of nutrient enrichment. Now, the froth has been troubling commuters as well.

Rejesh B Nair, a commuter pointed out, “Recently, I was driving through the lake where there is huge froth formation on either side of the road. A large chunk of froth came in front of a motorist and blocked his view and he was lucky to have escaped a fall. I was really petrified with the scene.”

Voicing a similar opinion Rama Murthy, a resident says, “Since the volume of froth has increased tremendously, a good force of wind easily pushes it to the roads. There are times when we have seen children in the vicinity playing with the froth unaware of its implications.”

Experts and citizens have been demanding for a long time that the officials clear the encroachments and take up de-silting of the lake but in vain. Even recently when the Koliwad committee visited the spot, residents pointed to the issues they had been facing. In fact, Koliwad had directed both the BBMP and the BDA officials to remove the encroachments. But it seems it will be a long battle for the people residing in the vicinity.

Radha Joshi, a resident says, “We have been living under the most unhygienic conditions here. We have been requesting the authorities to clean the lake. There is always a bad odor and the air that we breathe in is not at all clean. Our children fall sick very often.” Another resident Mithun P said, “The lake has been in this state for years but the authorities have always been mute spectators here.”