On April 29 of 2015, a Karnataka government notification stated that the ten hectares of Puttenahalli Lake, close to the Bengaluru International Airport, was declared a 'Bird Conservation Reserve'. However, since that declaration the condition of lake has gone from bad to worse. Sewage inflow, garbage dumping and illegal timber cutting has been rampant at the lake, but no action has been taken yet.
"The lake is host to about 30 types of migratory birds and 100 types of residential birds. However sewage inflow into lake has spoiled the environment and it is a threat to these birds," said Puttaswamy, President Citizen Forum, Yelhanka New Town.
The issue of pollution in the lake was brought to the notice of the Lokayukta under the then UPA-appointed Lokayukta SB Majage. He visited the lake and surveyed the surrounding ecosystem, only to crack the whip on BWSSB officials.
"A Raja Kaluve (water culvert) connects both the upstream Attur Lake and Puttenahalli Lake. The Attur Lake has completely dried up and there is no water. Yet the Rajakaluve is draining fluid into the lake. When we tracked where the flow was coming from, it went up to urban settlements. Thereafter the Kaluve is covered with cement slabs and difficult to track further. The entire sewage of these areas and adjoining layouts is let directly into the lake bed through the Rajakaluve," Dr Sangunni, retired professor of Physics from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and member of the Yelahanka Puttenahalli Lake and Bird Conservation Trust (YPLBCT), said.
Vanitha Achar, a resident of Vinayaka Layout from the last 16 years says, "This place was rich with floral and faunal activity. A lot migratory birds nest here, but now the lake water has turned black and lot of weeds have grown. Due to the stench from the lake, we have to shut our doors. And there is also the issue of mosquito-related diseases like dengue and chikkungunya. If the issue is not handled, this lake will die."
Another issue the lake is facing is of garbage disposal. Huge trucks carrying debris and garbage dump their loads in the premises of the lake. We have complained many times to concerned authorities, but nothing happens other than them blaming each other," said, A Padmanabha, a resident of Yelhanka.
Recently Deepika Bajpai, the Deputy Forest Officer, Bengaluru Urban, had issued a notice to BWSSB, asking them to stop the inflow of sewage. She noted that due to sewage, weeds like eichornia, typha and others have spread all over the lake. Local farmers also take these weeds as feed for their cows, adding the risk of chemical contamination of milk also.
However when Asianet Newsable asked about any work or any deadline for the rejuvenation of the lake, she said, “It will happen soon.”
BWSSB Chief Engineer for waste water management, Ramakrishna SM, said the Attur layout and other layouts are connected with the sewage line and hence the sewage is let inside into lake. "The sewage diversion work towards the Jakkur sewage treatment plant is going on. Once it is done the lake will be free from sewage," he said.
