All lakes in Bengaluru will be clean in 3 years: Minister George

Urban Development Minister K J George has assured that in 3 years, all lakes, tanks in the City will be clean. However, for 100 percent pollution free we have to wait till 2020. For the present, it has been decided to adopt Wetland Treatment to regulate effluents. The proposal will soon be approved by the Cabinet said K J George. A committee will be formed including NGOs and experts to advice in this regard, he said, reported Kannada Prabha.

Speaking to media persons after inaugurating the suburban DEMU train between Byappanahalli and Whitefield, he said, the Bellandur foam problem is caused by the bunds constructed for agriculture purpose. If the bunds are removed the foaming can be solved. However, it is not possible to break the bund. The heavy downpour with speed like waterfall has caused the foam, he said.

Around 80 percent of effluent from the City is reaching the tanks. Major part of the pollution is the detergents that are used extensively by the people. Foam is created by the vast amount of detergents present in the effluents.  Avoiding effluents getting into the lake has been taken up on war footing.  However, permanent solution is not possible at short period. It may take till 2020 for 100 percent effluents treated before being discharged into the lake, he said.

As per NGT orders, KSPCB and BBMP will take action against factories and public who let untreated effluents into the lake and also those who dump construction waste, he said.

Speaking on the rain havoc he said Bengaluru is better than several metropolitan cities in comparison. Even those cities get flooded during rainy season.  In Bengaluru there are 20 lakh houses and of them water has gushed into only 300 to 350 houses. The government is committed to solve the problem, he said.

• Permanent solution by 2020
• Bengaluru lakes
• NGT
• Bellandur
• Denotification
• Karnataka
• Lakes cleaned