Saul Kere in Bengaluru
“BWSSB had assured that the STP would come up within 1.2 acres of land above the FTL. The resident said Saul Kere spans 61 acres, of which 44 acres have water-holding capacity. BBMP had built an STP of 1 MLD there. The package is estimated to cost Rs 238 crore, including 30 months of operation and maintenance.
Bengaluru: Work on the proposed sewage treatment plant at Saul Kere lake near Bellandur has resumed even as Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has reportedly not yet confirmed whether the project would be compliant with the conditions laid down by Karnataka Tanks Conservation and Development Authority and Bengaluru East City Corporation. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Bengaluru | Silver Rate in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Petrol Price in Bengaluru | Diesel Price in Bengaluru | CNG Price in Bengaluru | LPG Price in Bengaluru Stay updated with the latest Bengaluru news.
GBA, being the custodian of the lake, should ensure the project’s compliance with the conditions under the approval,” a KTCDA official said. Our question on why Saul Kere was chosen over upstream lakes closer to the source of sewage also went unanswered,” said a resident involved in the lake’s preservation. Even a small reduction in this capacity could affect flood mitigation during heavy rain, he said. The STP will come within the prescribed FTL,” a senior BWSSB engineer said.
In June, Bengaluru East City Corporation halted BWSSB’s work as the board had not produced the required permission from KTCDA. Some residents living around the lake have been worried about the STP reducing the water-holding capacity of the lake, affecting the flood mitigation function of the lake. “We requested BWSSB to inspect the lake and explore alternative land instead of building the STP on the lakebed and wetland. When we asked the project engineers to look for alternative sites, they asked us where the land was. Even as a section of residents around the lake opposed the STP coming up on the lakebed, another group has highlighted the need for an STP at the lake to solve the sewage issues of surrounding areas of Kasavanahalli, Doddakannelli and Bellandur. Raw sewage continues to enter Saul Kere, with thick sludge deposited in the diversion drains surrounding the lake, leading to unhygienic conditions. BWSSB defended the project, saying it was essential to prevent sewage from flowing downstream into Bellandur lake. “Currently, the sewage is getting diverted and going downstream. We will be demolishing the same and going ahead with the treatment of Saul Kere catchment area. Located behind RMZ Ecospace and Ecoworld off ORR, Saul Kere is part of an interconnected lake system that drains towards Bellandur Lake. The surrounding area has experienced flooding during heavy rain. Three other STPs The STP at Saul Kere is part of a package comprising plants at four lakes in south and east Bengaluru, being developed with support from the World Bank’s Water Security and Resilience Programme. Download the TOI App.
Conditional approval was given for the STP project with BWSSB required to submit revised drawings ensuring that the project is between the Full Tank Level (FTL) and the Maximum Water Level (MWL), according to KTCDA officials. Even as KTCDA had asked for the revised plan before starting work, BWSSB has reportedly not submitted the same.