Centre raises concern over polluted lakes in Bengaluru

The Environment Ministry has decided to convene a high-level meeting in May to check the "alarming proportion" of pollution in lakes of Bengaluru.
Stating that the Centre has sanctioned around Rs 800 crore under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) scheme to Karnataka to mitigate pollution in the lakes, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said that he will talk to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah regarding the issue.
"I will talk to Karnataka chief minister today. We will convene a high level meeting in the first week of May. As regards to pollution in the lakes, it has assumed a serious proportion. Sewage of adjoining areas is flowing freely into the lakes and killing them," he said.

The Minister said 1,280 MLDs of sewage is generated per day in Bengaluru while the capacity to treat sewage is 721 MLD, out of which, only 600 MLD of sewage is actually treated.
He said that out of a total of 520 Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs), only 137 are non-functional.
Javadekar said that out of the Centre's grant of Rs 800 crore, Rs 500 crore is for laying down a 74-kms trunk sewage pipeline while Rs 162 crore has been provided to construct four STPs in Bellandur lake.

"They (state government) have formed a lake authority. Inspections are being done more frequently now. The Centre has sanctioned nearly Rs 800 crore to mitigate pollution in lakes. Now the state government, the local corporation and the authority need to act," he said.

The Union Minister rued that even after 70 years of independence, only 30 per cent sewage treatment capacity exists in the country at present.
He said that he will also hold a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis tomorrow and discuss CRZ, environment and forest issues of around 12 projects in the state, as well as the Deonar dumping ground issue.