Bengaluru: Expert committee to look into Bellandur Lake issue
FollowRaising concern over the overall health of Bellandur Lake, he emphasised the need to revive it at a workshop organised by the Namma Bengaluru Foundation on Thursday.
KJ George said, “Bellandur Lake’s state is a fallout of the uncontrolled and rapid growth of Bengaluru. It is completely polluted and there is an urgent need to revive it. Experts have suggested that there is no oxygen left in the lake and hence it is important for us to work on a comprehensive plan to save Bellandur Lake.”
“An expert committee will be formed to look into the various solutions proposed and work toward resolving the Bellandur Lake crisis will start immediately,” he said.
Namma Bengaluru Foundation had submitted a document on the action plan on saving Bellandur Lake to Minister AK Antony on 13 April.
The workshop chaired by KJ George also saw private enterprises, citizen groups and academicians suggest workable solutions along with the feasibility of implementing the same to save and revive Bellandur Lake.
Further, suggestions to empower key government bodies like BWSSB, KSPCB etc. were also discussed.
Speaking on the occasion, Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO, Namma Bengaluru Foundation said, “This workshop has helped us get wider inputs from different stakeholders and ensure that we work collectively towards safeguarding the largest lake in Bengaluru for our future generations.”
Renowned academician Professor TV Ramachandra, Indian Institute of Science, who has been conducting comprehensive research on Bengaluru lakes for over 20 years now, said, “The solution to the Bellandur Lake issue has to be technically feasible, economically viable and environmentally sound. It is important that we free our lakes from all sorts of encroachers.”
Further, he said, “The Jakur lake model should be replicated not only for Bellandur but for other contaminated lakes of Bengaluru.”
The measures proposed in the action plan include de-silting accumulated sludge, developing natural wetlands and treating the incoming sewage to be used as tertiary water supply source. The Plan outlines the estimated cost of rejuvenating Bellandur Lake at ₹400 crore with an implementation period of three years.
