Bellandur toxic foam: CM Siddaramiah says problem will be solved in 2 years

After the city was pounded by heavy rains on Tuesday morning, residents of Bellandur were a hassled lot. All because the Bellandur lake began to spill toxic foam onto the streets.

It became absolutely unbearable for the residents of Orchid Lake View apartments since their apartment complex is adjacent to the Bellandur bridge and this is where the foaming is at its worst.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that the state government is looking into the matter.

The chief minister who was in New Delhi to attend important meetings spoke on the issue. He assured that the Bellandur lake frothing will be solved but it will take time.

"It is there, it will be solved within 1 or 2 years. The government is taking all necessary actions," the chief minister said.

But residents are not willing to give the government that much more time. They want quick results since they are the ones who are bearing the brunt each time.

India Today spoke to some of the residents of Orchid Lake View apartment and all of them were deeply affected.

Ria, who owns an apartment, told that they hardly open their balcony doors and windows facing the lake because of the froth that flies into their flat. They now regret buying an apartment here.

Likewise, Shalini, another resident said, "We are so unfortunate to have bought a flat here and we request the government to please help us all."

The most affected are the children and elders who live in this apartment complex. Saloni said that the foam keeps entering their flat and their children are suffering from skin and lung infections.

The Bellandur Lake is one of the largest of the 262 lakes in the city and this is not the first time it has spilled toxic foam.

In the past as well, whenever the situation got out of hand, the government immediately ordered short term measures to contain it and that was the end.

NGT INTERVENTION

These incidents also led to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) taking up the matter suo motu. In April this year, the NGT directed the government to shut down 76 polluting industries around the lake area.

Today, the NGT summoned the state government's top officials to explain what action the government took on directions issued by it.

The Principal bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar directed that the Additional Chief Secretary to Department of Urban Development and Chief Executive Officer of the Lake Development Authority should be present in the court and submit a compliance report on its earlier direction issued on April 19 on protecting the water body.

The Bench was also not amused at the state government advocates plea that heavy rain in the city was due to cloud burst which caused flooding in parts of the Bengaluru.

On February 20, the NGT had taken suo moto cognisance of media reports and photographs of the incident in which fire broke out in the Bengaluru lake and issued notices to the Union Environment Ministry and different agencies of the Karnataka government in the case asking them to submit the report about the steps taken to prevent such things.

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VIDEO | Shameful civic situation in Bengaluru: Froth from Bellandur lake engulfs street