Doddabomasandra Lake’s clean up ignored, Pollution Board sits on file for 2 years
- Bharath Electronic Limited had approached the civic agencies to help in setting up of sewage treatment plant worth Rs 14 crores under its CSR activity.
- It has been 21 months and still there is no cooperation from the pollution board which has to give the consent.
- Similar attitude by government has forced Infosys to pull off from a project of rejuvenating Dodda Toguru lake in Electronic City
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The lake activists and local residents were on cloud nine when BEL announced their decision to set up the 10 MLD STP plant, as this lake had been clogged with sewage inflow.
Once people used the lake water for drinking and irrigation purposes. "As urbanization happened, activities like farming and fishing declined drastically. If the lake is rejuvenated and filled with clean treated water from STP, the over 200 borewells in the surroundings will swing back to life and water scarcity will probably see an end,"said Srnivas Murthy, a old-time resident of Doddabomsandra.
Lashing out at the attitude of the officials for the delay in permissions, Ram Prasad, Convener, Friends of Lakes said, "BEL agreed not only to install an STP but also to maintain it for the next 20 years. Such firms that come to help BBMP, BWSSB, should not be made to run from pillar to post. Had they got the given cooperation from KSPCB, by now the lake would have got clean water. The sewage from Thindlu, Vidyaranyapura and Doddabomsandra would have entered the lake after treatment.”
He further added that Karnataka State Pollution Control Board Chairman Lakshman was appraised about the delay in giving necessary cooperation from its side and he had expressed regret at the inconvenience and assured to clear all the documents of BEL and help the firm set up the STP.
According to sources, the company will be drawing 2 MLD treated water from STP and rest 8 MLD will flow into the lake. The sources also say time and again an official from the pollution board approached BEL to grease their palms but the firm did not give in to bribery.
It’s disappointing that this firm that has come to help the government is still being made to wait, despite being the ones suggesting to make the BBMP’s job easier. Now, the chairperson of KSPCB has said that he will personally take up the responsibility to get the certificate and hopefully by June the project will be initiated.
