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Avalahalli Lake flooded with construction, biomedical waste

  • Blood, fecal matter, syringes etc are floating in this lake in Bengaluru
  • The lake development authority has filed a police complaint against the medical centre
  • Medical Health Officer of South Zone Dr Savitha prepared a report based on the circumstantial evidence and has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on Meridian Health Center Frazer Town.
bengaluru lakes waste construction biomedical Avalahalli

The BBMP and BDA have been criticised  for not being able to protect Bengaluru's lakes, let alone developing the areas, as biomedical waste and construction debris are being dumped into the waters.

 

After the latest incident where syringes, medicines and other medical waste were found in the Avalahalli Lake in Bengaluru South, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and lake development agencies have decided to send a show cause notice and file a police complaint in this regard.

 

"On Monday, we found the pile of medical waste. Blood and urine samples and hazardous medical waste were found. The place was not new to construction debris, which is dumped illegally at night or early mornings. We have raised this issue with the pollution control board and also the lake development authority. Following the complaint, they visited the lake on Tuesday and cleaned the premises. KSPCB has taken samples to test. Meanwhile, LDA has assured to file a police complaint," said Anand Yerwad, trustee at the Avalahalli lake committee.

 

The lake was under BDA jurisdiction but it was transferred to the BBMP recently. The local residents, who believe the water body can be saved only through community participation, have submitted a memorandum to the BBMP to hand over the maintenance to them. "From December, we have been looking after the lake. We are in the process of removing weed and also stopping the sewage. The members have also written to the concerned department to depute security to stop construction debris," said a committee member.

 

Ram Prasad, convenor of Friends of Lakes, said the situation is going from bad to worse for all lakes in the city as industrial effluents are being released. "The Byramangala Lake is one such victim where industrial waste is being released mercilessly," he said.

 

The officials who visited the lake found a bill of Meridian Medical Centre at Frazer Town in Bengaluru East. "The health inspectors attached to the East Zone have been directed to send a notice to the centre and also file a complaint," said Lakshman, chairman, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. Meanwhile, Vidyasagar, CEO at LDA, assured action once he returns from Delhi. "I will return on Wednesday and we will file a police complaint against the names found on the items and medical bills," he said.

 

 After the hue and cry and the attention the lake's deplorable condition received. It seems action which was supposed to be taken months ago, happened in a matter of few hours. We now have an update to this story. Medical Health Officer of South Zone Dr Savitha prepared a report based on the circumstantial evidence and has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on Meridian Health Center Frazer Town.

 

"The Medical Center is in East zone but the dumping of waste was reported in South Zone, hence the report has been sent to East zone Medical officer Siddapaji. He will now send the letter and will have to follow up. The same model will be replicated in all zones and if any hospital or medical centre is found guilty of dumping medical waste,  they will be fined with huge amount and their licence will also be put under scanner, " said Raghavendra,  Health Inspector of Anjinapura/

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