Bellandur Lake

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Template:Infobox body of water

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} </mapframe> Template:Varthur Lake series Bellandur Lake is located in the suburb of Bellandur in the southeast of the city of Bengaluru. It is the largest lake in the city.[1] It is a part of Bellandur drainage system that drains the southern and the south-eastern parts of the city. The lake is a receptor from three chains of lakes upstream, and has a catchment area of about Template:Convert. Water from this lake flows further east to the Varthur Lake, from where it flows down the plateau and eventually into the Pinakani river basin.[2]

History

Bellandur Lake is believed to be originally a tributary of the Dakshina Pinakini river (also known as the Ponnaiyar River).[3]Template:Better source needed Old narratives cover village watermen, deities, cultural practices, and attached commons that provided wood and land for grazing.[4] In the 1940s, the lake was used for landing amphibious aircraft such as the Catalina.[5]

The impact of urbanisation goes back to 1980s when unplanned growth broke the chain of tanks and lakes feeding Bellandur lake. This reduced the amount of rain water reaching the lake to recharge it. The development also resulted in letting in untreated sewage water from housing societies and using the lake surrounding area to dump solid waste. Industries also started dumping their waste into the lake.[6][7] The combination of all these factors has resulted in a decrease in living standards for neighboring areas.[2] The presence of industrial chemicals in the water from nearby industrial unites causes the lake surface to catch fire regularly.[8] Froth has been associated with the lake since at least 2003.[5]

Farmers, activists, local government representatives and residents have been involved in a variety of diverse issues related to the lake, including construction of a road and cleanliness.[9] In 1997, when Bellandur lake was declared unfit for water sports during National Games, was the first time it drew media attention to the issue.Template:Citation needed The matter has also been taken to court. A PIL in 1999 highlighted the inaction to protect the environment and lakes. The High Court ordered the local administration to provide proper sewage network in the city to stop sewage from entering lakes. When the court order was not followed, the petitioners filed a contempt case. The High Court referred the case to Lok Adalat. In 2002, Lok Adalat directed all government departments including BBMP, BDA, BWSSB, Minor Irrigation, KSPCB and Revenue Department to form a committee and look into the status of Bellandur Lake.[9] A complication is that the lake is under multiple civic bodies.[10]

In 2000, resident association groups of Koramangala joined in and started lobbying with the government to stop mixing of sewage in storm water drains.[11] Right to Information activists, in search of information related to encroachments and dumping, have filed a number of applications related to the lake.[9] Members of the Legislative Assembly have also taken up the issue.[9][11] Several citizens have formed pressure groups. Efforts have included online petitions and campaigns and use of the social media.[12] In 2015 a Rajya Sabha member filed a PIL in the High Court of Karnataka.[13][14] In March 2017, the state government invited experts from the UK and Israel to help resolve environmental issues.[15] In 2016 the National Green Tribunal stopped construction near Bellandur Lake and expanded the buffer zone around lakes.[16] This was overturned by the Supreme Court in 2019.[17][18][19]

The size of Bellandur lake, the scale of siltation and pollution associated with it, and uncertainty as to what exactly should be done to rejuvenate the lake has resulted in the lake failing to meet expected environmental standards for decades. Proposals such as removal of silt or translocation of sewage have been questioned.[20][21][22] Major efforts include the construction of sewage treatment plants.[23][24]

Hydrology

Bellandur Lake is a major water body which is located in one of the three main valleys of Bengaluru. It forms a part of the Ponnaiyar River catchment, and water from Bellandur flows to Varthur Lake, ultimately joining the Pennar River.

The catchment area, water cover, average depth and maximum depth have all decreased over a number of years.[25][26][27][28]

Millions of litres of untreated sewage is deposited in the lakes catchment area every day.[29] In 2017, 2020 and 2021 new sewage water treatment plants were opened in the catchment area of the lake.[30][31][32] There has been a loss in the number of upstream lakes connected to Bellandur Lake.[33] Over the years it has seen failed rejuvenation efforts.[34]Template:Sfn This includes efforts at rejuvenating the lake without addressing upstream lakes.[35] Bellandur lake has seen frothing in 2015,[36] 2016,[37] 2017,[38] 2018,[39] 2019.[40] In 2015,[41] 2017,[42] 2018,[43] 2021,[44] parts of the lake caught on fire.[45][46] In 2018 parts of the lake were on fire for over 30 hours.[47] In 2022 Bellandur lake was one of a number of lakes which overflowed.[48]

Flora and fauna

Several species of birds are found, including the Grey heron, Purple heron, Indian pond heron, Intermediate egret, Cattle egret, Blyth's pipit, Grey wagtail, Western yellow wagtail, White-browed wagtail, Black kite, Brahminy kite, Western marsh harrier, Shikra, Wood sandpiper, Marsh sandpiper, Common sandpiper, Garganey, Northern shoveler, Northern pintail, Little grebe, Indian spot-billed duck, Black drongo, Ashy drongo, Spotted owlet, Blyth's reed warbler, Pied bushchat, Barn swallow, Red-rumped swallow, Ashy prinia, White-throated kingfisher, Asian koel, White-cheeked barbet, Common myna, Jungle myna, Spot-billed pelican, Indian shag, Great cormorant, Little cormorant, Black-headed ibis, Glossy ibis, House crow and Asian green bee-eater.[49]

References

  1. ↑ A 'thousand lakes' once fed now-parched Bengaluru(15 March 2024).
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bellandur Lake. www.RainwaterHarvesting.org. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Bellandur lake on fire: 10 facts to know about this heritage lake. AsianetNews.tv(17 February 2017). Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  4. ↑ Imperiled waterscapes: The social-ecological transformation of lakes in Bengaluru. Ecology, Economy and Society({Template:Date).
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Bellandur Lake was safe bed for WW-II fighters, Krishnan M., Anantha. The Times of India(2 December 2003). Retrieved 2022-11-09.
  6. ↑ Bellandur Lake: a story of toxic froth and fire. Down to Earth(17 February 2017). Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  7. ↑ Stop sewage flow into Bellandur Lake: National Green Tribunal. The New Indian Express(13 April 2017). Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  8. ↑ The urban farmers battling Bangalore's concrete jungle. BBC(28 May 2017). Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Desperately seeking revival, Khandekar, Supriya. Citizen Matters, Bengaluru(2008-10-02). Retrieved 2021-12-31.Template:Unreliable source?
  10. ↑ Bengaluru's lakes go bad as authorities deny responsibility, Sengupta, Sushmita. Down to Earth(27 May 2015). Retrieved 2022-10-03.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 All you need to know about Bellandur Lake and its problems, M, Akshatha. Citizen Matters, Bengaluru(2015-10-29). Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  12. ↑ Why a Bellandur lake campaign by Bengaluru IT employee is picking pace, Srinivasan, Sarayu. The News Minute(6 October 2015). Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  13. ↑ Ready revised plan for Bellandur Lake: HC to agencies. Deccan Herald(2018-07-13). Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  14. ↑ NGT gets tough over endangered Bellandur. Bangalore Mirror(March 21, 2017). Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  15. ↑ Bengaluru, Shamed By Frothing Lake, Summons International Help(25 March 2017). Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  16. ↑ NGT halts construction on wetland between Bengaluru lakes, Verma, Rashmi. Down to Earth(11 May 2016). Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  17. ↑ Realtors cheer as SC overturns NGT order on lake buffer zone. The Economic Times(6 March 2019). Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  18. ↑ Apex court sets aside NGT order on Bengaluru lakes. Hindustan Times(2019-03-06). Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  19. ↑ SC Sets Aside NGT Order Enlarging Buffer Zones Around Bengaluru Water Bodies; Upholds Penalty Against Two Builders [Read Judgment], Sebastian, Manu. LiveLaw.in(2019-03-06). Retrieved 2022-09-24.
  20. ↑ 'Do not desilt, dewater Bellandur, Varthur lakes', Menezes, Naveen. Bangalore Mirror(13 February 2020). Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  21. ↑ Bellandur lake cleaning: Experts divided over desilting, diverting polluted water, Chatterjee, Soumya. The News Minute(2020-02-13). Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  22. ↑ Ahead of monsoon, desilting begins at Bellandur, Varthur lakes, Kumar, Praveen. Deccan Herald(2020-06-03). Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  23. ↑ This sewage has a new address at Bellandur, Menezes, Naveen. Bangalore Mirror(21 April 2021). Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  24. ↑ Bellandur gets sewage treatment plant. The Hindu(2017-05-15). Retrieved 2022-11-05.
  25. ↑ Bellandur and Varthur Lakes Rejuvenation Blueprint. Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore(April 2017).
  26. ↑ Why Bellandur lake clean-up exercise could snap many human linkages. The Economic Times(28 April 2017). Retrieved 2022-11-08.
  27. ↑ Detrimental Landuse Changes In Agara-Bellandur Wetland. Energy and Wetlands Research Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. Centre for Sustainable Technologies, Centre for infrastructure, Sustainable Transportation and Urban Planning(August 2015).
  28. ↑ Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Algae and Macrophyte Cover in Urban Lakes: A Remote Sensing Analysis of Bellandur and Varthur Wetlands in Bengaluru, India. Remote Sensing({Template:Date).
  29. ↑ City of burning lakes: experts fear Bangalore will be uninhabitable by 2025, Bhasthi, Deepa. The Guardian(2017-03-01). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  30. ↑ This sewage has a new address at Bellandur, Menezes, Naveen. Bangalore Mirror(21 April 2021). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  31. ↑ Bellandur gets sewage treatment plant. The Hindu(2017-05-15). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  32. ↑ 210 MLD sewage pumping station to help rejuvenation of Bellandur, Varthur lakes. The Hindu(2020-09-10). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  33. ↑ Imperilled Waterscapes: The Social-Ecological Transformation of Lakes in Bengaluru. Ecology, Economy and Society({Template:Date).
  34. ↑ Sewage water flow stalled Bellandur lake revival: CAG, Moudgal, Sandeep. Deccan Herald(2012-03-26). Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  35. ↑ Bengaluru has 75 dirty lakes, but BBMP to develop only 8, Menezes, Naveen. Deccan Herald(2021-12-10). Retrieved 2022-09-30.
  36. ↑ Bangalore's lake of toxic foam – in pictures. The Guardian(2015-10-01). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  37. ↑ Bengaluru: Residents demand action as toxic froth rises in Varthur, Bellandur lakes again. Scroll.in(18 December 2016). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  38. ↑ Bengaluru lake froth on streets: Here's what causes the toxic foam and how it is harmful to people. Hindustan Times(2017-08-17). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  39. ↑ In Bengaluru, 10-Foot-High Froth At Bellandur Lake After All-Nighter Rain. NDTV.com(25 September 2018). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  40. ↑ Bengaluru's Bellandur Lake Begins To Froth Once Again. NDTV(21 April 2019). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  41. ↑ Fire on Bellandur Lake. The Hindu(2015-05-16). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  42. ↑ Bellandur Lake: a story of toxic froth and fire. Down to Earth(17 February 2017). Retrieved 2022-09-11.
  43. ↑ Why This Lake Keeps Catching on Fire. National Geographic(14 February 2018). Retrieved 31 December 2021.
  44. ↑ Fire breaks out at Bengaluru's Bellandur Lake, officials blame it on a burning garbage pile. The Indian Express(2021-03-05). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  45. ↑ Fire breaks out at Bengaluru's Bellandur Lake, officials blame it on a burning garbage pile. The Indian Express(2021-03-05). Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  46. ↑ Fire Breaks Out At Karnataka's Bellandur Lake. NDTV.com. Retrieved 2021-12-31.
  47. ↑ Why Bangalore, India's Bellandur Lake Catches Fire: Water Pollution, Abraham, Mary-Rose. National Geographic Science(2018-02-14). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  48. ↑ Rains in Bengaluru Continue To Wreak Havoc, Bellandur Lake Overflows Into Homes. TheQuint(2022-09-05). Retrieved 2022-09-25.
  49. ↑ Birds of Bellandur Lake. ebird.org(2014-04-21).

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