Bengaluru: Sewage in Byramangala Lake intensifies frothing

BENGALURU: Frothing at Byramangala Lake, which is actually a reservoir built across the Vrishabhavathi valley west of Bengaluru, has escalated. As a result, clouds of foam are seen over neighbouring villages and fields.
Spread over 1,018 acres, Byramangala Lake is located in Ramanagara taluk and is currently under the minor irrigation department. It has turned into a cesspool with the Vrishabhavathi river carrying sewage from Bengaluru and emptying it into the lake.
Residents of Byramangala village claim Vrishabhavathi carries more than half the sewage generated by Bengaluru. Besides the untreated sewage, industrial pollutants too are let into the lake, rendering the water filthy and sooty.
'Village is cursed'
Former chairman of Byramangala gram panchayat G Ramaiyya told TOI a curse has been cast upon his village.
During rain, froth covers the water surface and spills over. "We can't sit outside our houses in the evenings because of mosquitoes. There's no ventilation as we are forced to keep windows closed," said Ramaiyya.
"Though Rs 30 crore has been sanctioned for development work like installation of a sewage treatment plant near the lake, we aren't sure when the project will begin," he added.
According to research by United Bengaluru, most villagers living in the lake's vicinity are suffering from skin diseases due to the polluted water. NR Suresh, convener, United Bengaluru, said borewells too can't be drilled in Byramangala village as the groundwater is also contaminated. "Consuming it would affect villagers' lives. Crops cultivated in these villages also contain dangerous chemicals," added Suresh.
Worse than Bellandur
Ramprasad V from Friends of Lakes said Byramangala Lake is in a worse condition than Bellandur Lake. "While Bellandur water is greyish, at Byramangala Lake, it's completely black. It's surprising that people in Byramangala are alive," he said.