After froth, it is now flames in Bengaluru's lake

After Varthur Lake, now it is the residents near Bellandur Lake who have been raising their concerns about the froth emerging from the water body. The foam created panic among the residents and passer-bys when they found that it had caught fire which was very unusual.

According to officials of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (LSPCB), this was the first time that such an incident had been observed. The culvert at Yemalur was seen abuzz with commuters stopping to capture the pictures of the fire with the froth. Some of them also complained about the strong foul smell emanating from the froth.

Speaking with iamin, Nanje Gowda, a local resident said, “I hope the authorities will do something to end this problem as soon as possible.’’ Experts say hydrocarbon rich effluents discharged by establishments and household in the vicinity is responsible for the fire.

The BBMP authorities have removed silt from canal to facilitate smooth flow of water from the lake but nothing has been done to clean the froth that stands a chance of overflowing onto the street. “It is because of the methane build up on the surface of water. Lot of sewage has been flowing into the lake. Because of this, a layer of oil and froth was formed. The methane, which is highly combustible, caught fire near the culvert,’’ said Siddaramaiah, environment officer, KSPCB.

It may be recalled that a team of Central Pollution Control Board had visited Varthur Lake to take samples of froth for some tests. Dr Vaman Acharya, chairman, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, had said that a criminal case would be registered against Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for not taking measures to prevent the flow of sewage water into Varthur Lake.

Also read: Varthur Lake spews frothy sewage on road; pollution control board to act against civic body

When contacted, Dr Vaman Acharya said that necessary measures would be taken to prevent the flow of sewage water into Bellandur Lake. “The only solution is to construct sewage treatment plants to treat the water. I hope the BWSSB will expedite the construction of these plants at Bellandur Lake,’’ he said.

For the original version of the report, click here