Rejuvenation of Bellandur-Varthur lakes seems to be on the anvil.
Following the announcement by the Union government offering special funds to put up sewage treatment plants (STPs) on the upstream of Bellandur–Varthur lakes, the State government has formed a committee to remove silt from and rejuvenate the water bodies.
The formation of the 18-member committee is a follow-up on the recent one-day workshop organised by Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF) and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), where seven private firms and the Indian Institute of Science suggested ways to rejuvenate the two lakes. The suggestions included everything from wet drudging to desilting to bioremediation of the toxic lake water.
The committee now formed is chaired by the additional chief secretary, Urban Development Department. It has domain experts and local residents.
It is not just tasked with identifying the appropriate technology for rejuvenation of the lakes, but also with ensuring implementation.
Prof. T.V. Ramachandra of IISc., environmentalists A.N. Yellappa Reddy and Sharath Chandra, and Ramamurthy, petitioner in the Bellandur lake PIL, are among those who have been appointed to the committee.
The 18-member panel will have representatives from the private sector as well
