Bengaluru: The local residents walking near Chandapura lake, Anekal on Tuesday observed large amount of froth on the lake water. The incidences of froth in lake water have been observed in many lakes in Bengaluru. The number of lakes in city having froth in water have been increasing since last few years.
According a report by Bengalore Mirror, a lake walker said, “I was taking my morning walk on Tuesday when I saw white foam on top of the water of lake. Previously, National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued directions regarding restoring the lake and monitoring its condition. The froth seen on the lake indicates that no concrete action has been take in this direction.”
NGT’s instructions to government last year
On October 2023 the National Green Tribunal imposed a fine of Rs 500 crore on Karnataka government for not being able to control pollution in Chandapura and its surroundings. The tribunal stated that due to the inaction of the authorities the lake has incurred severe damages. NGT called it the breach of ‘Public Trust Doctrine’ by the government and blamed it for lake’s condition.
Many instruction to restore the lake were outlined by NGT. The measures included planting suitable plants, trees and vegetation in the lake premises after proper consultations from the Karnataka Forest Department. It also suggested engineering method called gabion structures, check dams and gully plugging to enhance the water condition of lake so that it reach at least ‘C’ category.
NGT gave 6 month deadline for implementation of measures
A monitoring committee, presided by the chairman of Karnataka Wetland Authority was charged with the responsibility of monitoring the restoring work. The government was asked to implement all the measures within a period of six months. Karnataka Forest Minister Eshwar B Khandre inspected the lake this year after which he asked the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) to speed up the process of commissioning the Sewage Treatment Plant in the lake’s catchment area before NGT’s deadline.
