BENGALURU: After pulling up civic agencies, the BDA, BBMP and BWSSB, for failing to rejuvenate lakes in the city, Lokayukta Justice P. Vishwanatha Shetty on Friday inspected Sarakki, Subramanyapura and Talaghattapura lakes along with United Bengaluru members. The Lokayukta asked the agencies to come up with a time-bound solution to rejuvenate these lakes.
Sarakki Lake
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) recently issued notices to industries around Sarakki Lake for polluting the water body. Local residents alleged that encroachments near the lakebed were removed recently, but new constructions have come up. The Lokayukta asked the agencies to clear these encroachments.
The revenue department asked for two weeks to survey the land to allow BBMP to fence lake boundaries. Chief engineer B.V. Satish said, “We have spent Rs 10 crore on rejuvenation works till now. Rs 5 crore was spent in the first phase and the work is going on for the second phase.”
He submitted to the Lokayukta that by the year-end, weed would be removed and the water body extended.
The BWSSB submitted that an 18 MLD capacity pumping station has been constructed at the Koramangala and Challaghatta Valley, from where sewage will be directed for treatment of 6 MLD of sewage. The construction of a sewage treatment plant (STP) of 5 MLD capacity is in progress and the remaining 1 MLD will be directed to a drain by constructing a silt trap which will be connected to the STP to stop sewage from being discharged into the lake.
To maintain the lakes after rejuvenation, Justice Shetty asked the trusts to come forward and work towards maintaining them.
Subramanyapura Lake
The BBMP is planning to construct walking paths and toilets and put up security guards for the upkeep of the lake. Now, over 230 slum dwellers have allegedly illegally settled on the lakebed. Residential complexes have been built to accommodate 90 families.
After the completion of the electrification work, the slum dwellers will be moved, the BBMP told the Lokayukta. But the remaining 140 slum dwellers have maintained that they were given land near the lake by former chief minister of Karnataka S. Bangarappa in 1996.
The Lokayukta directed revenue officials to conduct a fresh survey within six weeks.
Talaghattapura Lake
The BDA handed over the custody of the lake, but the BBMP is yet to take possession of it. A discussion on how companies through their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding can help rejuvenate the lakes took place and Justice Shetty assured the people that approvals will be given to initiate such works.
After inspecting over 25 lakes, the United Bengaluru in November 2017 filed a petition with the Lokayukta and handed over documents on encroachments and pollution.
