For throwing debris in the lake, residents blame the truck drivers who in turn blame the Municipal Council, who blame the residents.
By: Naandika Tripathi
Bangalore, Feb 01, 2018: A tractor trolley filled to the brim with construction debris drives down to the Kammasandra Lake finds a clearing and upends the rubble on the ground.
“This has been happening since last three weeks. Two to three tractors come and dump the construction debris near the lake,” said Martin, one of the residents near Kammasandra Lake.
Despite complaining to the City Municipal Council (CMC) about the illegal dumping of construction material on the lakebed, the residents say there is no stop to it.
The tractor drivers claimed that they had authorization to dump the debris near the lake from CMC, Hebbagodi.
However, Narasimha Murthy, Hebbagodi CMC Commissioner said that they never permitted anyone to dump the construction debris near Kammasandra Lake.
“Infact, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) is sending notice to CMC regarding the lake being polluted. Residents near by the lake are dumping garbage also private vehicles are dumping the construction debris near the lake. CMC is going to take strict action against these vehicles and seize them,” he said
“Some of the debris has gone into the lake as well. In fact the tractors have now started dumping thermocol waste too,” said Martin.
“We had a residents meeting and president of Resident’s Welfare Association (RWA) Mr. Venkatesh spoke to the CMC councilor and complained and they are yet to take action,” he added.
Krishna Kumar, one of the members of KR Puram Constituency Association Welfare Federation said that, already very few lakes exist of which some are on the verge of dying. Lakes are being constantly encroached by dumping of debris, garbage and inflow of untreated sewage from residential complexes.
“Government authorities seem to be least bothered about it, that is why our welfare group has taken the initiative of saving lakes,” he added.
Suresh R., one of the members of United Bengaluru, a non-governmental organization (NGO) working on saving the lakes in the city said that, the condition of the lakes in Bangalore is worsening by the day. Looking at the approach of the government, the condition is going to deteriorate further in the next five to ten years, he said.
“We work for protection and reclaiming of Bengaluru lakes. An order from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), says anybody dumping the garbage around a lake should be penalized with Rs.5 lakh fine but the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is doing nothing about it. We have inspected around 30 lakes and have filed a complaint to Lokayukta and on each lake we have given a detailed complaint,” he added.
The Lokayukta officials visited the spot and have said they will take necessary steps.
