Action taken report of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) in respect of Vengayyana Kere/ K R Puram lake/ tank located at K R Puram and Sannathammanahalli village, Hobli, Bengaluru east taluk, Bengaluru urban district dated 03/05/2023.

J Jagan Kumar, resident of Bengaluru had filed a petition before the National Green Tribunal with regard to the dumping of waste and discharge of untreated sewage into Vengayyana Kere/K R Puram lake/tank located in Krishnarajapuram (K R Puram) village and Sonnathammanahalli village of K R Puram Hobli. The applicant also alleged that the authorities were trying to make some changes by laying a road in the water body and putting up the constructions in the buffer zone of the water body, thereby shrinking the size of the lake and the buffer zone.

The NGT, January 24, 2023 had directed KSPCB to submit a comprehensive report on the following aspects: 1. Letting sewage water into lake 2. Restoration of the lake within the buffer zone 3. Encroachments inside the lake area

With regard to letting out sewage water into the lake, the BWSSB authorities should quantify the sewage generated in the Hebbal valley till downstream of Varthur lake as there are series of lakes and also most of the newly added 110 villages which are existing in that stretch. Without "quantifying the sewage generation and submission of action plan by BWSSB to plug the sewage entry into the lakes/water bodies, entry of sewage into the lake cannot be stopped," said the report.

Untreated sewage from the upstream area is flowing into storm water drain and reaching Vengaiahnakere.

The BBMP (Lakes) authorities have not completed the rejuvenation work of the lake, even though the word order was issued on December 8, 2022. Also, BBMP has not yet fenced the entire lake completely. KSPCB is also conducting routine inspections in the catchment area of Vengayyana Kere/ K R Puram lake to identify and initiate action against the defaulters who are discharging sewage with/without treatment. In this regard, notices have been issued to 13 number of apartments.