Synopsis of the report of the monitoring committee appointed by the National Green Tribunal order of December 6, 2018 and December 18, 2019 in Original Application No. 125/2017. The matter related to pollution of Bellandur, Varthur and Agaram lakes in Bengaluru, Karnataka.

The committee noted that 75.21% progress has been achieved against the planned target of 86.38% in the construction of 150 MLD sewage treatment plant at K&C Valley. The BWSSB assured the committee that the pending work would be completed by July 30, 2020. The 5.0 MLD STP at Sarakki lake has been completed and commissioned. The same was the case with the 10 MLD STP at Hulimavu. The upgradation of all existing STPs with facilities to remove biological nutrient at 248 MLD STP at K&C Valley are expected to be completed by September 30, 2020. An amount of Rs. 75 lakhs have been collected from 14 units, whose STP was not functioning /standard norms are not met.

Tenders for de-silting Bellanduru and Varthur lakes have been invited. “Even after continuous persuasion by the committee, quarries for dumping the silt from both the lakes have not been identified so far by the Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru Urban/BDA,” the report said.

The silt/sludge samples at 5 locations in Bellanduru lake and 4 locations in Varthur lake were collected and got analysed for heay metals from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The CPCB results indicated that the sediments or Bellandur Lake (three out of five locations) has heavy metal values above response level and required to be disposed accordingly. At Varthur Lake, at all locations the values reported for heavy metals are lesser than the response levels.

Note : Date of Submission of report March 6, 2020 and report uploaded to the NGT site on May 13, 2020