Dumping of waste, debris in buffer zone of lakes continues

Among those affected is Subramanyapura lake in Uttarahalli

Trucks carrying garbage parked near Subramanyapura lake.

Residents living around Subramanyapura lake in Uttarahalli were elated when the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) earmarked ₹2.8 crore for rejuvenation of the water body last year and began work eight months ago. But despite an enthusiastic start, work came to a sudden halt in May. That apart, several trucks have been regularly dumping garbage in the lake's buffer zone, in violation of an order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

“The work on rejuvenating Subramanyapura lake was stopped due to rains. No attempt has been made to prevent sewage from entering the lake. We don't know when, and if, the work will be taken up again,” said an activist.

In May 2016, the NGT ruled that no development should be taken up in a 75-metre radius of a lake, 50 metres (from the edge) of a primary storm water drain, 35 metres from secondary drains and 25 metres from tertiary drains.

A civic activist told

The Hindu that the problem of dumping waste in the buffer zone is not restricted to Subramanyapura lake.

R.T. Dasa from Friends of Lakes also claimed that this is the case with most lakes in the city, more so the ones on the outskirts. Among the lakes facing this problem are Kalkere lake, Ramapura lake and Hosakerehalli lake. “Efforts of citizens in saving a lake will come to naught if the authorities concerned don't support them by ensuring that sewage is not let into the lake, and debris and waste are not dumped on the lake bed or in the buffer zone,” he said.

A senior official from the civic body's Department of Lakes conceded that work on all lakes had slowed down. “With rain water filling up and stagnating in most lakes, we have temporarily suspended work. Work cannot be taken up in such conditions,” he said.

BBMP Joint Commissioner (Solid Waste Management and Health) Sarfaraz Khan denied that garbage is being dumped in buffer zones of lakes. He said that due to lack of space, some garbage transfer stations have been set up near Subramanyapura lake and a few others. "We have already identified about 60 new locations for transfer stations across the city. We were waiting for the election process to be completed. We will now float tenders for shifting the transfer stations," he said.