COMMENTS

Friends,

The only way to ensure lakes in Bangalore are rejuvenated, restored to its prestine glory of attractive water bodies in today's urban living context is to literally improve the water quality as well as the entire area surrounding the lake by attracting massive investment, using the best available technology and not feeling that handing over the rejuvenation and maintenance to the best technology in the world somehow compromises one's sovereignty over the lakes.

International Commercial organisations are not interested in possessing land (unlike NICE which happens to be an Indian Company!!). Are we so weak as to believe our whole city will be taken for a ride? And being afraid of such a percieved belief, we refuse to do anything about it?

I think some soul searching must be done by people in authority and environmentalists who object to anything foreign because they believe every foreign company is a potential East India Company of yore!

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 The point taken by Chari sir is well taken. However I would like to make an observation here. It is rather sad that the pollution of the lakes in question is perpetrated by BBMP in the first place. This crime is being repeatedly committed each day till now. It is going to be committed day after day till we the general public is made aware of it. I hope that day of awareness is going to come sooner the better.

We need to solve this problem of sewage water being let into the storm water drains by BBMP itself. 

There are records of hundreds of complaints piled at BBMP on this issue. First this lacuna needs to be sorted out.

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Yes, part of solving the lake rejuvenation problem is in getting all illegal drains / sewage lines to stop pouring their dirty water into the lake. Actually, even storm water that currently enters lakes through open drains is polluted as the longer it travels from the point of source (where rain falls) to point of discharge (the lake) the more contaminant it becomes. Exposure to sun leading to photosynthesis and algae formation followed by human being throwing all and sundry garbage into such open drains adds to the pollution. On top of that BWSSB sewage lines get connected and join the polluting corus of water!

How much more unhygienic can it get?

I personally do not think public pressure on BWSSB / BBMP is going to change the storm water drains overnight. Some committed person in power supported by political bosses (who may see another avenue to line their pockets if they support new technology) would have to take some bold initiative to tackle this problem. It is endemic and cannot be solved piece-meal and step by step.

Ciao and sorry for sounding so pessimistic!

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 However let us be very clear about the various issues involved.

1. It is illegal on the part of BBMP to drill holes in their own sewage pipes and there by connecting sewage line to SWDs.
2. BBMP is sitting on number of complaints from the affected parties.
3. I think we in PRAJA understand the implications.
4. Praja need to act on this issue
5. Whether or not this solution is satisfactory or not is a different issue. This should never be mixed up
6. Whether the above changes the SWD position overnight or not is not a valid reason for not acting. Period
7. We should not mince our words about “lining ones pockets”.
8. A political solution for Party funds should be worked out separately 
9. I wish we get some more participants than just two of us in this debate.

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The lakes were an important part of rain water harvesting adopted by our ancestors, in olden days. The purpose of lakes was to store the rain water for drinking and irrigation needs of people and the live stock. The economy of the land in those days was village centric. Life was mainly dependent on agriculture. A few cities existed mainly for ruling clan and the armies etc. 

Before the age of Steam and IC engines the administrative reach was limited. With steam/IC engines and electricity the Industrial revolution came into being. With the Industrial revolution, the prominence of cities and the consequent down fall of villages was inevitable. In fact the villages are irrelevant or can be visualized as resorts for calming the cities, in to day's context. 

It is obvious with the above perspective that, the cost of the lake increases with the increase in the real estate value. It is now easy to understand the disappearing lakes phenomenon so conspicuous in Bangalore.

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