Bengaluru: The once scenic Kundalahalli lake may have become a cesspool of sewage, but it is set to reclaim its former glory this rainy season. The civic body has dewatered the lake and is all set to dredge the sludge in the lakebed.
“We have removed all the water using pumps. Finding such huge quantities of accumulated sewage on the lake bed was a revelation for us. Initial estimates indicate that the sludge weighs over 1,000 tonnes,” said Arvind Keerthi, a local resident who is spearheading the lake’s revival.
A senior BBMP official said that they will immediately start dry dredging the lake. The sludge will be put to use as manure. “Our aim is to keep the empty lakebed ready before the monsoon when rainwater will rejuvenate the lake,” the official said.
The method used at Kundanahalli lake (and also Ulsoor) for the rejuvenation process was dry dredging, a technology that experts say is better than wet dredging.
Incidentally, the State government has been pushing for wet dredging at both Bellandur and Varthur lakes.
A senior BBMP official said that they opted for dry-dredging at Kundalahalli as the lake is relatively smaller — it spans 30 acres — and hence did not necessitate much logistics to handle the water in the lake.
The private CSR funded 1MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is ready for commissioning. This plant will ensure that only treated sewage water is let into the lake.
The problems that persist
However, a few other problems continue to pose a threat to the rejuvenation process. The lake is yet to be surveyed and fenced. “There are many encroachments, including a few buildings and a slum. Dumping of construction debris has only come down, not ended,” Mr. Keerthi said.
A mound of construction debris right next to the lakebed is yet to be cleared by BBMP officials.
Fed up of the dumping of construction debris, citizens had dug trenches around the lake in May 2016.
