Environmentalists

Varthur lakes

toxic wastewater

Bengaluru

oppose NGT-recommended plan; call it unscientific, impracticalEight environmentalists including Dr AN Yellappa Reddy and Prof Harini Nagendra have cautioned against implementing two measures suggested by the National Green Tribunal-monitored committee for rejuvenating Bellandur and. They believe the plan to desilt and dewater these water bodies is impractical and unscientific.“The rejuvenation approach of diverting approximately 500 million litres ofentering Bellandur lake to Varthur lake and subsequently to Dakshina Pinakini river, seems to us that the polluting matter is being pushed downstream, thus translocating pollution. Rejuvenation of one waterbody should not spell a death knell to other water bodies. This activity is in contravention of Section 24 of Water Act. People downstream of Bellandur tank also have the right to clean and healthy environment,” Yellappa Reddy, noted environmentalist and chairman ofEnvironment Trust said in an open letter written to various government departments.The BDA has already made provision to divert wastewater from Bellandur Tank to Varthur lake. Similar works are underway at Varthur lake. Environmentalists, however, want the government to immediately pause and take course correction after preparing an environmental impact assessment.The letter, which is undersigned by many environmentalists, has also opposed the proposal to desilt both the lakes.“For the past 50 years, both Bellandur and Varthur lakes have been recipients of municipal solid waste, industrial solid waste, construction and demolition debris, hospital waste, plastic and raw sewage. Based on precautionary principle, one can deduce that 19.4 million tonnes of silt and slush on Bellandur lake bed and 7.8 million tonnes of silt and slush on Varthur lakebed is hazardous in nature both biologically and chemically,” the letter states.The environmentalists believe it would take 53 years to completely de-silt Bellandur lakebed, even if the government removes 1000 tonnes per day.They said only 1.8% of the total toxic silt and slush could be removed if the de-silting were to be carried out for an entire year. They demanded an environment impact assessment and cost benefit analysis before carrying out the mammoth task.The letter has urged the government to prepare a lake ecosystem management programme which is rooted in science with quality water data, clearly defined goals and measurable objectives aligned with financial resources.