The Bellandur lake in Bengaluru drew the attention of national media recently after its polluted water caught fire. The development created panic among the local residents and environment activists of the city.
When the Deccan Herald team visited the lake on Tuesday, the fire was still burning under thick layers of foam. The heavy flow of sewage into the lake has led to the accumulation of methane and oil in froth. This is said to be the cause of fire.
Bellandur lake, which is spread over 900 acres, receives about 500 million litters of untreated sewage water every day. The ground water in the area has been contaminated and the nearby vegetation is also affected. The black water of Bellandur is now a certified health hazard.
As the monsoon rains are on their way to lash the city, the Bellandur residents await a watery hell. When it rains, the polluted lake overflows and spills over to the nearby roads. It emits an unbearable stench and foams fly into the air and land on pedestrians and vehicles.
The state pollution control board authorities say the situation is alarming and needs to be tackled on war-footing. They are all set to file a criminal case against the BWSSB for not treating the sewage before letting it into the lake.
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