Sky shower and slopes to deal with Bellandur lake frothing

BWSSB officialsto meet Minister Ramalinga Reddy today

The level of foam increased at Belandur lake following the heavy rain that lashed the city in the past week.— Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

Until the disease can be treated, civic authorities, it seems, are struggling to contain the symptoms.

With a “permanent” solution for the frothing that has covered large parts of Bellandur lake still years away – in the form of sewage treatment plants and underground sewage networks in the area – the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has been asked to install “sky showers” in outlets while the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has been directed to “level out the weir” to reduce the foam generated.

Sprinklers ineffective

At an inspection involving representatives from numerous civic agencies on Monday morning, it was found that the two sprinklers currently set up are ineffective in tackling the large quantities of foam.

“We have suggested a sky shower, which is like a wide fountain to ensure all the foam in the outlet is broken up, instead of just sprinklers,” said Siddaramaiah, Regional officer of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) who was at the inspection.

Similarly, BDA was directed to level off the overflow weir – where the five-foot drop causes the sewage-laden water to churn up froth – into a gentle slope in order to curb the turbulence.

BWSSB officials said a meeting had been scheduled with Bengaluru in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Tuesday where a decision may be taken on reducing sewage flow into the lake.

Heavy rains of the past week have caused the inflow into the lake to increase in magnitude and speed, causing the froth to rise at the 800-acre lake.