The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has directed the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to take action, including filing of criminal charges, against small apartments who let sewage into drains or rivers.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday, Vijay Kumar, Member Secretary of KSPCB, blamed the BWSSB for failing to curtail entry of untreated sewage into Belandur and Varthur lakes, which caused it to froth and foam.
Earlier in May, KSPCB had issued an order directing all apartments with more than five dwelling and commercial units near the two lakes to install sewage treatment equipment.
Efforts to cleanse lakes
Meanwhile, fighting the vagaries of weather, residents continued efforts to clean up the two embattled lakes. They planned to release bukashi balls , which will release microbes that eat sewage, in the first week of June. However, they suffered a setback.
Kiran P. Kulkarni, a lake activist who is spearheading the effort, said numerous residents had come forward to make the balls for free. “We planned to make 1,000 balls by June 5. However, due to heavy rains, cow dung and sludge, which we had collected for the balls, got washed away,” he said.
Even the 1,000 litre of microbe solution sprayed into Bellandur lake on May 28 was washed away downstream to Varthur.
“This was expected. The next spraying (on June 5) will be done in the middle of the lake,” said Mr. Kulkarni.
