The State government wants to use Bellandur lake as a source for implementing a minor irrigation project to supply water for agricultural use in Bengaluru Rural district. Though this may sound far-fetched given the level of pollution in the lake, the government intends to rejuvenate the lake and use it as a water source.
However, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has been allotted only ₹50 crore in the 2018-19 budget for the ‘all-round rejuvenation’ of the lake. In the previous 2017-18 budget, ₹50 crore had been set aside for the lake, but rejuvenation efforts met with little success. The BDA has, in the past, admitted that it does not have the technical expertise or the mandate to undertake this project.
Soap nut instead of detergents
Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has set aside ₹10 crore to formulate a scheme to encourage farmers to grow soap nut. He pitched the project as an alternative to the frothing in Bellandur and Bhyramangala tanks.
The National Green Tribunal had appointed a three-member observation committee that recently inspected Bellandur lake and suggested that phosphorous from detergents was the cause of frothing, and suggested eco-friendly soaps.
The chief minister said that reverting to traditional soap nut is the best way to reduce frothing.