The great revival of Bellandur and Varthur lakes began today

By Aratrika Dey

MLA Arvind Limbavali inaugurated the Bellandur and Varthur lakes rejuvenation project today. The project was sanctioned by the State Government of Karnataka by order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT). However, some residents want the dignitaries to inaugurate completed projects rather than those that are yet to begin.

Objectives of the project

This project aims to provide a toxin-free, clean environment for the people living in the area. Both the lakes, Bellandur especially, have been victims of frothing that will be mitigated by this project. This will gradually improve the water quality of the lakes. Besides, wetlands are going to be built in places which will further increase the cleanliness of the water.

In a recent report by the Bangalore Environment Trust (BET), the lake bed has been serially contaminated by industrial effluents, heavy metals such as lead and arsenic over the years. This is also a bi-product because Bellandur and Varthur are at the end of the chain of lakes in the city, and the sewage from the upstream lakes has slowly polluted the lake water. The rejuvenation plan aims to desilt the lake bed and dump the toxic silt in unused places. However, there is a catch. “The silt was supposed to be carried to a safe place and sealed off,” says Nagesh Aras, Bellandur resident, and activist. “But the BDA was unable to find such a place.”

Initially, three quarries were found to dump the silt, but the plan was discarded as there were fractures on the ground. These fissures would allow the leachate to pass down to the groundwater system and pollute it, leading to another large-scale problem. One of the goals registered under the plan is to increase the groundwater level and make provisions to keep it clean.  

Long-pending project

The Bellandur Varthur lake rejuvenation project has been in the works for quite some time. Initially, the NGT had ordered the government to take care of all the lakes in the city after taking cognizance that the lakes were not being maintained in 2016. Which is perhaps why some residents feel that the dignitaries should inaugurate the projects after they are completed. “Recently, we have worked out with our elected representatives not to arrange for any functions or programs at the start of a project, but to have them after completion,” says Nitin Seshadri of Koramangala. “This will ensure that projects are atleast completed. The number of functions will reduce by half.”

The twin lake project was developed and approved by a special committee of people including professors from IISC. The budget for the project was finalized by the NGT order asking the state government to deposit a sum of Rs 500 crores in an escrow account to ensure that the money is only used for that particular purpose. The money was sanctioned on January 5, 2019.

The project had the active involvement of residents as well. “I am part of the Bellandur lake Citizen Group, where we meet the NGT and other officials regarding the status of the project and provide our inputs,” says Seema Sharma, resident of Bellandur. Plans have also been made for a bio-diversity park to be built. However, there is no fixed date of completion for the project.