Bengaluru: Union Minister for Commerce and Industries Nirmala Sitharaman adopted Kalena Agrahara lake near Bannerghatta Road in Bengaluru.
The once pristine lake, which was visited regularly by migratory birds and housed a healthy population of fish, has fallen victim to encroachment over the past few years. According to residents, dumping of untreated sewage into its waters is rampant.
The union minister’s gesture has brought cheers for the residents of Kelana Agrahara who have been making efforts to save the lake. The residents said the lake suffers from untreated sewage being dumped from nearby layouts. They said they have been cleaning this lake since 2007 and even raised Rs 3 lakh to maintain it.
After adopting the lake, Nirmala Sitharaman said the issue of untreated sewage would be addressed immediately and the avenues through which this untreated water is entering the lake would be identified and diverted to a sewage treatment plant.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Commissioner N. Manjunath Prasad said dredging of the lake for sludge would be carried out and that the entire project is slated for completion by March 2018.
