BENGALURU: Yele Mallappa Shetty Lake, a minor irrigation tank spread across 500 acres along NH-75 beyond KR Pura, is fully covered with hyacinth, indicating massive sewage inflow. According to sources, some residents from Sai Garden, Abhivrudhi Layout, have allowed sewage connections directly into the lake. Besides, the 15MLD capacity Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is said to be insufficient, and over 30MLD of water being released into the lake.
A resident of Seegehalli, adjacent to the water body, said, “Many layouts have been formed, and many houses have no underground drainage (UGD) connections and are releasing water into channels. This is leading to raw sewage entering the lake. The entire lake from Medahalli side is covered with water hyacinth, and this is due to water contamination.”
The National Green Tribunal had already called for rejuvenation and protection of the water body. Based on the direction, the Minor Irrigation department has taken up fencing up to 9.3km, but at crucial points, the fencing is incomplete. A department official stated that only a few metres of fencing from NH-75 towards Kolar is pending, and the department will complete it soon.
“The department managed to reclaim 9 acres of encroached land, but is unable to arrest sewage flow, as this is the responsibility of Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB),” the department engineer said.
Volunteers working on the lake’s development are unhappy with the slow progress. “The unprotected lake is still being used to dump garbage and construction debris at night or early morning. Poultry waste is also being dumped in the buffer zone.
Officials must install CCTVs, deploy marshals and police patrol to stop garbage dumping into the lake. That apart, a full-fledged inspection must be conducted on the layouts and homes to identify their UGD status, and if their connection is entering the lake, officials must immediately stop the flow of untreated water,” said Balaji Raghotham, a volunteer for sapling plantation around lakes in Bengaluru East City Corporation.
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, which is supposed to conduct a check, is yet to inspect the status of the lake and water quality as the official concerned was transferred. The new environmental officer who has taken charge claimed he will go through the files soon and inspect the lake.