Palike to take up rejuvenation of the water body again

In an annual ritual of sorts, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to take up the rejuvenation of the Ulsoor Lake in the City. The only difference this time is that the Palike is planning to construct a footbridge there. According to Palike sources, the BBMP is taking up the de-silting project worth Rs three crore, besides the improvement of Ulsoor Lake and construction of a footbridge.

A study conducted by Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), a Bangalore-based non-governmental organisation, in association with the Lake Protection Forum, an organisation of fishermen, over the first three months of this year on the Vembanad lake has shown that the level of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) has increased and the level of dissolved oxygen has decreased over these three months.

CHENNAI: This weekend, the lake at Mudichur in Tambaram, which usually wears a deserted look, saw an unusual clean-up crew at work. Along with students in T-shirts and caps scouring the water like treasure hunters, were 42 Marines from the guided-missile cruiser USS Bunker that is currently docked at Chennai for a joint Indo-US military exercise.

Armed with cleaning implements, the marines and students — over 60 of them from various schools and colleges across the city – fished out polythene, rubber, thermocol and other environmentally harmful materials from the highly polluted lake.

Glory of City’s largest lake far from being restored; Rs 1.91 crore goes down the drain

Despite spending Rs 1.91 crore, the rejuvenation of the Bellandur lake has been halted midway, states a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.
After the State government’s nod, the Bellandur lake, which is spread across 900 acres and is the largest in the City, was to get a facelift.

Sewerage is entering the 169 lakes dotting the city. Pollution of the lake waters has happened because of rapid urbanisation and lack of infrastructure. Additionally, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and the Water Board have failed to check the illegal connection of sewerage lines to storm water drains.

After lying orphaned for several years, with nobody knowing whose jurisdiction they came under, the lakes are now being taken care of by the Lake Protection Committee, chaired by the commissioner of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority, with officials from the various civic departments and Ranga Reddy collectorates as members.

SHILLONG: Forest and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong has admission that the iconic Ward’s Lake of Shillong is polluted due to discharge of untreated wastes from a hotel and the Shillong Club.

Replying to a Call Attention Motion on Thursday he said due to constant seepage of effluents even fishes were dying. He also informed that the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) had taken up the issue of non-compliance of environment rules by the polluters

JAMMU: Minister of State for Home and Urban Development, Nasir Aslam Wani today said that ` 219 crore was received from centre for conservation of Dal lake.

Replying to a question of Ajay Sadhotra in Upper House today Mr. Nasir said that based on the recommendations made by the experts, a comprehensive strategy and interventions are being implemented for cleaning the Dal lake, which included Point Pollution, Non Point Source of Pollution, Restoration of development works and Rehabilitation of Dal Dwellers.

Residents on outskirts of city face danger

Residents of the villages on the outskirts of the city have become mute spectators to pollution of lakes and ground water, which they use for domestic purposes and cattle. The pollution is due to sewage water discharged from the nearby quarters into the lakes, untreated.

PONDA: Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) officials on Monday inspected the lake at Arla-Keri, Ponda and collected water samples for tests.

The team, comprising Sanjay Kankonkar (scientific assistant), Ashely Pereira (engineering assistant) and Rema Kanlekar (junior laboratory assistant), said a report on the water samples would be available after 15 days.