Ulsoor lake desilting work begins before rains

By Y Maheswara Reddy

Palike is using just one pump to drain out water from lake unfold over six acres; and the water is being let off in a drain instead of being recycled in a sewage plant

The monsoon is nearly here. And the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) goes to start desilting the sedimentation tank at the Ulsoor lake any time now.

With pre-monsoon showers pouring down over the city already, taking over desilting paintings seems counter-productive however who's to tell the BBMP that?

To desilt the tank, the BBMP has to pump out all of the water first. But if rains continue to flood the tank, it'll interfere with the desilting paintings, which might go on for longer than anticipated, and lead to increasing costs.

The desilting of the sedimentation tank at the Ulsoor Lake was once intended to had been taken up in 2013. But nothing took place.

Now, six years later, and on the eve of the monsoon, the BBMP has revived the desilting plans. Added to the extend, the venture’s timing is being puzzled.

I think the desilting paintings may not be completed before the onset of the monsoon. Starting desilting in the remaining week of May is not only a futile try but additionally wasting tax-payers’ cash

N S Ravi, President, Bharathinagar Residents’ Forum

Why desilting:

Silt accommodates positive debris of rock, sand and waste this is carried by way of water and deposited on lake beds. The presence of silt reduces the capacity of a water body by way of reducing its intensity. When desilting is carried out, the capacity of a water body to carry water increases. Desilting also leads to larger percolation of water into the bottom, and when completed scientifically, it may help build up floor water levels. Desilting also increases the intensity of a water body and thus prevents flooding.
Keeping a majority of these elements in mind, mavens and citizens say the timing of the desilting paintings is questionable, besides a waste of tax-payers cash.

Cost factor

In 2013, the BBMP’s estimate to desilt the sedimentation tank at Ulsoor Lake was once Rs 11.30 lakh. Five years later, the associated fee has escalated to a whopping Rs 70 lakh (nearly six occasions the original quantity). It is said that greater than 20,000 cubic metres of silt has collected in the sedimentation tank over the previous few years. “It’s long-pending paintings. It has change into a habit with the BBMP government to help the contractors get some kickbacks in go back,’’ says Kalidasa Reddy, a resident of Kallahalli. Many people who talk over with Ulsoor Lake in the morning and night time for a walk aren't towards desilting of the sedimentation tank however question the extend in taking over the paintings and the escalation in the associated fee.

“I think the BBMP government are immune to modify or reform. They by no means trade. Their purpose isn't to help the people however waste tax-payers’ cash,’’ opines Gajendra G, a resident of Ulsoor.

Work in progress

When this reporter visited the tank, a contractor was once enticing one water pump to drain out the stagnated water at the sedimentation tank this is unfold over six acres. The water this is pumped from the tank is being emptied right into a manhole close to the idol immersion tank.

“I'm yet to come back across the BBMP government doing good paintings that benefits other people. They are getting cash every year and so they by no means spend it on anything of worth other than serving to themselves,” says V Purushotham, Convener of Citizens for Civic Justice. He provides, “Why is the water now not despatched to the Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) located adjoining to the Swami Vivekananda Park on the other facet of the lake? The 2 MLD STP was once built at an estimated value of Rs 4.77 crore and it was once inaugurated a few months in the past.”

Coming down heavily on the BBMP government for taking over the paintings in the remaining week of May, Bharathinagar Residents’ Forum president N S Ravi has mentioned the precise time to clean the sedimentation tank was once summer season (February, March, April and May).

“The BBMP government will have to have equipped the silt to farmers to be used as manure for vegetation. I think the desilting paintings may not be completed before the onset of the monsoon. Starting desilting in the remaining week of May is not only a futile try but additionally wasting tax-payers’ cash,’’ says Ravi. When contacted, a BBMP assistant engineer (Lakes) mentioned, on stipulations of anonymity, “We don't have any other option however to take in the paintings because the paintings order was once issued a few weeks in the past. We may now not get the paintings order in March or April because of the model code of habits, on the eve of Lok Sabha elections.”

Meanwhile, BBMP Chief Engineer (Lakes), Parameshwara, has mentioned that each one efforts can be made to finish the desilting paintings before the onset of the monsoon. “I've visited the Ulsoor lake yesterday. I directed the contractor to engage extra water pumps to pump out the water from the sedimentation tank. I'm hopeful of completing the paintings,’’ says Parameshwara.