Several residents of Bellandur, famous for frothing waters, now use soapnut in place of factory chemicals

People living around Bengaluru’s Bellandur Lake wake up to the sight of froth rising up from the highly polluted waterbody every day. Some of them are now looking at the possible connection between the soaps, shampoos and detergents they use and the foaming. They have now decided to something about it.

Several residents are switching to eco-friendly, biodegradable, or fully natural alternatives to mass-produced chemicals.

Seema Sharma, a Bellandur resident, buys soapnut and makes her own hair wash, laundry detergent and dish washer liquid. “There was awareness among certain groups earlier, but news of frothing lakes has spurred adoption. I use raw soapnut and soak or boil it for use. But there are also many ready-to-use alternatives available in Bengaluru,” she said.

People like Ms. Sharma hold workshops in schools, colleges and at the ward level through groups such as Kasa Muktha Bellandur and Bangalore Eco Team.

Nut for all reasons

Shyamala Vishak, another resident, said the bad state of the lake inspired her to switch. The freelance corporate trainer has been using only soapnut for a year to wash vessels, for mopping, laundry, and as a hair wash.

Her method is to soak around 50 nuts in five cups of water for 48 hours. The nuts turn soft and are crushed by hand. The solution with bioenzymes is used to clean vessels and in the washroom, she said.

Ms. Vishak buys 5 kg of the nut at ₹150 per kilo and uses it for a month-and-a half. The rise of alternatives has been steady. Bindhu Balasubramanian, founder, Go Rustic, which offers both raw and readymade products says, “From around 20 kg per month a year ago, the sale of soapnut is now 50 kg. But many people like readymade products. So we make it with a liquid-base,” she said.

Companies that offer ready-to-use alternatives, such as Rajendra Hegde’s Biological Research Innovation Centre and Solutions, are selling them in Bengaluru, Chennai, Tiruchi, Coimbatore, Kochi, Mumbai, Gurugram and New Delhi.

Ramprasad V., co-founder, Friends of Lakes, said that it was not possible to pinpoint the cause of the frothing, but the switch to natural chemicals could reduce nutrient content in water. “But people around Bellandur alone doing it will not help. It has to start from the beginning of the lake series and 80% of people must change,” he said.