Sewage, excess fish polluted Ulsoor Lake, says reportPollution board proposes treatment plant, monitoring pisciculture
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Thousands of fish died in Ulsoor lake recently because of high pollution of thewater body. DH FILE PHOTO
The Ulsoor Lake, where scores of dead fish surfaced recently, is highly polluted because of sewage and unscientific pisciculture, the pollution control board’s analysis reveals. Releasing a report to various stakeholders, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), also made certain recommendations, including setting up of a sewage treatment plant.
According to the report, dissolved oxygen (DO) level was 0.3 milligrams a litre (mg/l) against the prescribed 4mg/l near the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) Centre. The level of biological dissolved oxygen was 48 mg/l. The total coliform bacteria also exceeded the limit because of sewage entering the lake.
The report notes that though sewage was diverted into sewers, it was seeping in from the damaged storm water drains. It also shows that local fish density in the lake had increased. The contractor, during pisciculture released 1,75,000 fingerlings into the lake against the permitted 80,000 in 40 hectares of the lake. This also led to drop in DO levels.
On March 6 and 7, scores of dead fish were found floating on the lake. The KSPCB collected water samples on March 7 and 8 and convened a meeting with stake holders.
KSPCB chairman Lakshman told Deccan Herald that the report was been submitted to the government and other departments including Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Fisheries Department, Lake Development Authority, MEG & Centre and fishermen’s association.
“We have given them a list of recommendations and called for their immediate implementation,” Lakhsman said. KSPCB, which has given Rs 100 crore to BWSSB for establishing sewage treatment plants at Bellandur and Varthur Lake catchment areas, has asked it to reserve Rs 4 crore for setting up an STP of 2 MLD capacity within 12 months at Ulsoor Lake. “We have also directed them to examine, plan and prepare a detailed project report before commencing work,” Lakshman added.
According to the report, dissolved oxygen (DO) level was 0.3 milligrams a litre (mg/l) against the prescribed 4mg/l near the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) Centre. The level of biological dissolved oxygen was 48 mg/l. The total coliform bacteria also exceeded the limit because of sewage entering the lake.
The report notes that though sewage was diverted into sewers, it was seeping in from the damaged storm water drains. It also shows that local fish density in the lake had increased. The contractor, during pisciculture released 1,75,000 fingerlings into the lake against the permitted 80,000 in 40 hectares of the lake. This also led to drop in DO levels.
On March 6 and 7, scores of dead fish were found floating on the lake. The KSPCB collected water samples on March 7 and 8 and convened a meeting with stake holders.
KSPCB chairman Lakshman told Deccan Herald that the report was been submitted to the government and other departments including Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, Fisheries Department, Lake Development Authority, MEG & Centre and fishermen’s association.
“We have given them a list of recommendations and called for their immediate implementation,” Lakhsman said. KSPCB, which has given Rs 100 crore to BWSSB for establishing sewage treatment plants at Bellandur and Varthur Lake catchment areas, has asked it to reserve Rs 4 crore for setting up an STP of 2 MLD capacity within 12 months at Ulsoor Lake. “We have also directed them to examine, plan and prepare a detailed project report before commencing work,” Lakshman added.