Bengaluru lake spouts foul-smelling toxic foam; residents alarmed

Bengaluru, August 17

Bengaluru’s Bellandur Lake’s spewed toxic foam on Thursday, as rising pollution levels in the lake continues to cause alarm residents of the city.  

“This foam problem has been there for a very long time. Due to heavy rain for past two days, the water level has increased and now the foam is spilled over the whole bridge. Because of this, it is difficult for commuters to drive on the road. The residents are also trying hard to solve this matter,” a local resident Jitesh said.

Toxic foam makes it difficult for drive on the road. It has also cause fear of an epidemic outbreak in the area.

Pollution in the Bellandur Lake, the largest of the 262 lakes and tanks in Bengaluru, has grown to alarming proportions in the recent past. The foam has also caught fire on some occasions.

Heavy rain on August 15 resulted foam spilling out of the lake on to the areas nearby.

The lakes toxicity has even forced the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to take up the case suo moto.  On April 19, the NGT directed immediate and complete shutdown of 76 polluting industries around the lake after a mound of garbage was set on fire in February this year, leading to massive pollution in the area.

The green court expressed displeasure over the steps taken by state agencies for the reviving the Bellandur Lake and gave Karnataka Government a month to clean it up.

The NGT also questioned the government’s failure to block off sewerage water from entering the lake despite reminders from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

It also told the state government to set up a committee headed by the Urban Development Department (UDD) to monitor the rejuvenation of the Bellandur Lake.

On May 18, the NGT directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to ensure that industries around the lake followed the tribunal’s order.  ANI