Bengaluru
A concerning incident has come to light in the ongoing rehabilitation efforts at Varthur Lake, where thousands of fish have perished due to sewage contamination. It appears that certain vested interests intentionally broke the sewage canal adjacent to the lake, allowing sewage to flow into the lake. This action has not only polluted the already dwindling water in the lake but has also led to reduced oxygen levels, which, in turn, caused the fish mortality. The situation has been exacerbated by the inadequate rainfall during this monsoon season, prompting the initiation of wetland construction and silt removal projects at Varthur Lake. As the lake’s water level receded, bore wells in the area also experienced a drop in water levels. In an attempt to mitigate this deficiency, a section of the lake was breached to divert sewage water into it, which has had negative consequences for the local fish population. The government had undertaken the rehabilitation of Bellandur and Varthur Lakes following directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) several years ago. However, progress on these projects has been impeded since 2019, leading to incomplete works. In the case of Varthur Lake, the dredging project is nearing completion, and wetland construction is ongoing. Nevertheless, various critical tasks remain pending, including the delayed installation of sewage treatment plants (STP) to prevent sewage from contaminating the lake. Furthermore, the finalization of the routing for treated water has yet to be determined, causing concerns among environmentalists who argue that the restoration efforts for Varthur Lake have been neglected.
