Lakes in Bangalore are under attack from Wastewater Mafia
The brave effort by chief conservator of forests UV Singh to stop gang of lake polluters has not only made him a hero but raised many questions among experts. U V Singh, chief conservator of forests, who heads the Lake Development Authority (LDA), was assaulted on Sunday by a corporator. But this is not his first such encounter — Singh was attacked by the mining mafia and eucalyptus mafia earlier. As a crusader of lakes, he fears that all lakes in Bangalore are under attack from a wastewater mafia which is polluting water bodies.
TV Ramachandra of Energy and Wetlands Research Group Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science, said: “I am not surprised by the attack. It is sad that environmental laws are not being strictly adhered to.’’Each high rise (industries, commercial complexes and even apartments) should have a treatment plant of its own. Unfortunately, waste is recklessly dumped into water bodies by contractors, he said.
“The sewerage should be treated before it is let into the lake and the effluent should be treated and used by industries. But the regulatory framework is too weak to enforce the rules. There is need for more UV Singhs in the system,” he said.
The gang leader, who allegedly led the assault on four green officials, has been identified as N Chandra, Congress corporator of ward number 62, Ramaswamypalya, police said on Monday. While Chandra remained at large, two of his gang members Manju and Sharvan were arrested late in the evening. The arrests were confirmed by police commissioner Shankar M Bidari. Police are questioning them along with six engineers of BWSSB.
As a crusader of lakes, UV Singh fears that all lakes in Bangalore are under attack from a waste water mafia. “Without the connivance of authorities, such discharge into the treated water pipeline is not possible. It has to be investigated properly and we have to get to the root of how it’s happening. Illegal dumping is rampant in Bangalore’s lakes.” said Singh
Source: Times of India ; DNA India
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