The Basavanapura and Varthur Lakes in Bengaluru have seen changes in colour and dead fishes over the past 3-4 days. A lake activist noticed a leakage from the underground drainage system near the lake inlet. He said, “It is clearly visible that the UGD line is blocked and water is overflowing. The water colour in the lake has changed and I can see fish floating already. I don’t think they will survive for more than 2-3 days. After 13 years of struggle, the lake was renovated but such incidents of pollution really hurt.”
However, A contractor who maintains the lake has said that such things are common. “When it rains, automatically sewage gets mixed with it and enters the lake. If we have heavy rain, the water keeps moving and fresh water keeps filling up. There is an issue with the UGD chamber which needs to be fixed by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) so that sewage doesn’t enter the lake. We go often and clean up the lake.”
Lake Varthur, at its final stages of restoration, saw sewage-mixed water floating on top due to sewage from upstream entering the waterbody. A lot of fish did not survive the incident. The incident, caused by a diversion channel breach, took a week to be fixed.
Hamsaveni N – Times of India
