Sewage lines to keep lakes clean

BANGALORE:  In major move that could prevent the lakes around the city from getting polluted to some extent, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board  (BWSSB) is to lay sewage lines on the  periphery of 68 lakes in the newly added areas of the city, to prevent the sewage from flowing into them.Reputed environmentalist A N Yellappa Reddy said, “This will prevent the utrification of water and the flow of nitrates and phosphates into the lakes. The sewage that flows into the lakes pollutes the ground water in the area. Recently E-Coli forms were found in the bore water in some parts of the city and such things happen if the ground water gets polluted. They should also take care to ensure that the sewage does not flow into the storm water drains.”The BWSSB Chairman P B Ramamurthy said, “We have planned to do it as a part of the project that is undertaken to provide Under Ground Drainage (UGD) to the newly added areas, at the cost of Rs 1,300 crore with World Bank’s aid. The World Bank officials too have appreciated the project. However, we have to work out a plan to divert the traffic around most of the lakes, as many narrow and busy roads are either on the bunds of some of the lakes or by the side of the lakes. Moreover, as the lakes are normally situated in low-lying areas, it is difficult to connect the lines to the main sewer lines in a way that ensures that the sewage does not clog.”According to Ramamurthy, the BWSSB is coordinating with the Lake Development Department, Bangalore Development Authority and Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to evolve plans to divert the traffic before it undertakes the works. The BWSSB is also planning to involve and educate the elected representatives and local people in the project to ensure that the flow of sewage into the lakes is completely stopped in  these areas.The BWSSB had undertaken a time-bound project to lay 2,300 km  of  UGD lines in six city municipal corporations and one town municipal corporation  that were merged with the city to make it into greater Bangalore.