Alahalli Lake was in the news in April over medical waste dumped near the lake The BBMP traced the waste and fined a hospital Rs 5 lakh for the dumping However, more medical waste, this time inside the lake itself, has been discovered
Once again Alahalli lake is under threat as bags of bio-medical waste was discovered to be dumped in the lake. It should be recalled that a few months ago, the same lake was in the news after bio-medical waste was dumped on the lake bed, outside the lake. A later investigation traced the waste to a hospital in Frazer Town, which was fined Rs 5 lakh for the dumping.
Sadly, this time around the story is worse, as the waste was discovered inside the lake itself, which makes it a strong health hazard. Lake activists have informed the BBMP and the State Pollution Board regarding the incident and an investigation is on to uncover the culprit.
"I don't think the BBMP has collected the Rs 5 lakh fine from the hospital town which dumped bio-medical waste in our lake. Now, this has happened again! Neither the BDA nor the BBMP is ready to take ownership of our Alahalli lake, which is why the lake is in a filthy condition. This is encouraging people to dump all kinds of waste into the lake - causing health hazards to residents, cattle and the environment," laments Anand Yerwad, a lake activist and trustee at the Avalahalli lake committee.
The lake was under BDA jurisdiction initially, but it was transferred to the BBMP recently. 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 of the lake 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.
