Lakes turn into sewage pools.

Over the last six years, more than Rs. 200 crore from the State's exchequer was spent on the development of Bangalore's water bodies that once kept the city cool and verdant. But most funds have gone down the drain, in many cases quite literally as lakes have either turned into pools of sewage or have been encroached.

The quality of water in most lakes is categorised as 'E', which makes it only fit for irrigation, industrial cooling and such other non-potable uses. Their storage capacity too has not increased, reveals documents obtained under the Right to Information Act (RTI Act) for 191 lakes in the city.

Based on a complaint lodged by Wg. Cmdr. (Retd.) G.B. Athri, who procured the documents under the RTI Act, the Upa Lokayakta has convened a meeting on April 12 to discuss the water bodies. He has directed all agencies concerned to submit details on encroachment of water bodies, funds spent on their development work and the failure to control pollution of lakes.

THE HINDU