Our lakes are not only dwindling in number, but those that remain are seriously polluted. This is the picture that has emerged from a report on the pollution levels in the 86 lakes of the city (in Bangalore South, Bangalore North, Bangalore East and Anekal taluks) released by the Lake Development Authority (LDA).
While lakes such as Bellandur, Varthur, Ulsoor, Puttenahalli and Jakkur are among the 39 severely polluted lakes; 47 lakes, including Madiwala, Nagavara, Agara, Yediyur, Lalbagh, Sankey and Hebbal have been found to be moderately polluted.
The study was carried out by the LDA in order to assess the health of these water bodies and devise programmes for their development. The Sriram Institute, a private organisation, was assigned the task of studying the water quality.
Method
Water quality was analysed over a year. Nine parameters were prescribed to assess water quality, namely, saturation, presence of faecal coliforms, pH levels, biological oxygen demand (BOD), temperature, total phosphates and, nitrates, turbidity and total solids. Water was analysed during the April-June, July-September, October-December and January-March quarters, and an average of the readings for each lake taken.
The report that was submitted to the LDA on Wednesday will be forwarded to the stakeholders — Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, Bangalore Development Authority and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board for necessary action, Chief Conservator of Forests (LDA) U.V. Singh, told The Hindu on Friday.
