As a first step, the field officers will be authorised to levy fines in areas where residents dump garbage haphazardly , the BMP commissioner pointed out. We are trying our best to streamline the services and to complete the projects , the BMP Commissioner emphasised. For the villagers of Bellandur on the outskirts of Bangalore, the recent rains have come as a blessing in disguise to spearhead their campaign against the pollution of the lake. The froth formation at Bellandur Lake due to the release of untreated effluents would have gone unnoticed but for the heavy downpour. The froth from this lake has once again become the cause of concern for environmentalists and for the villagers of Bellandur.
Villagers point out that froth is seen whenever there is a heavy downpour.
We have been facing the problem for the last five years, a villager said. Crops, including paddy grown in about 500 acres in 50 villages in the catchment area of Bellandur Lake have been affected due to the release of toxic effluents from the industries, Bellandur Gram Panchayat chairman K Jagannath said. Compared with the froth formation the last time when it resembled a large hillock, blocked the bridge passing through the village causing traffic disruption, there was no such problem this time. Though the froth has subsided considerably, a pungent smell emanates from the lake. Mr Jagannath said that the yield per acre in the area has come down from 40 quintals to 5 quintals.