Two days after he was allocated the portfolio of Bengaluru Development, Karnataka Deputy CM announced the setting up of a 5 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Kaggadasapura Lake, to prevent further damage to the lake’s ecosystem.
Parameshwara was accompanied by Bengaluru Mayor R Sampath Raj and other officials from BBMP and BWSSB. He later went to inspect the condition of Bellandur Lake.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that officials have been directed to identify a suitable place for installing an STP at Kaggadasapura lake and also to ensure that similar STPs were installed in other major lakes.
For months now, residents of the locality in CV Raman Nagar had been complaining about lapses on the part of civic agencies in preventing garbage and sewage from ending up on the lake.
Instead of desilting and cleaning the lake, the locals accused the local MLA and corporator of building a temple, a garden and a 30-feet-wide walking ramp along the lake.
“Today, the Minister and the Mayor had come because of the constant effort of the apolitical groups over the past one year to save the lake. Even two weeks before today, the Mayor had visited the lake and understood the problems and we explained what exactly is needed for the lake's rejuvenation,” Mohan Dasari, who is part of Save Kaggadasapura Lake, said.
Mohan has also contested the local assembly polls as an AAP candidate.
Locals want the lake to be taken under the BBMP’s lake rejuvenation programme which has been a success. Currently, both the BDA and BBMP claim the lake to be in each other’s custodianship.
Speaking about the alleged illegal construction work by the local BJP MLA S Raghu, Mohan said, “Normally, the pathways will be of 10 feet but in some places, there is a 60 feet pathway without any proper tendering process. We have filed RTIs with both the BBMP and BDA and they have said that they are not doing these works.”
In the last six months, these works have stopped due to pressure from apolitical groups, he said.
“As an immediate step, there is a need to build STPs in two-three locations. There is one inlet of sewage from Pai Layout and another inlet from Bagmane Tech Park. Other than the sewage, locals allege BBMP Solid Waste Management contractors dump garbage including plastic in the lake bed. We want these things to stop,” he added.