sewage

A well-functioning sewage treatment plant (STP) achieves two things – (1) it handles solid and liquid waste, which otherwise would pollute the earth, and enables its recycling (2) it is a source of usable water (effluent) and fertiliser (sludge). Unfortunately, the STP at Yelahanka New Town 5th Phase, achieves neither. Built by the BWSSB about 10 years ago, spread across 5 acres of land, the STP was supposed to treat about 3MLD. The treated water was to be let into Yelahanka Puttenahalli Lake. However, despite huge investment, the STP has never been operated to treat sewage. Instead, the "Waste Water…

A well-functioning sewage treatment plant (STP) achieves two things – (1) it handles solid and liquid waste, which otherwise would pollute the earth, and enables its recycling (2) it is a source of usable water (effluent) and fertiliser (sludge). Unfortunately, the STP at Yelahanka New Town 5th Phase, achieves neither. Built by the BWSSB about 10 years ago, spread across 5 acres of land, the STP was supposed to treat about 3MLD. The treated water was to be let into Yelahanka Puttenahalli Lake. However, despite huge investment, the STP has never been operated to treat sewage. Instead, the "Waste Water…

In August last year, several individuals and groups working to save and protect different lakes of Bangalore met to exchanges notes and see how they could help one another. A report on this meeting can be read here. After interactions over the past year, Arbind Kumar Gupta and Balasubramanian Thirunavukkarasu, the two gentlemen who initiated this meeting, felt that the way forward was a formal platform - one that could bring different lake groups/trusts and social organizations/NGOs in Bangalore together, represent the voices and concerns of people of Bangalore, and work with government agencies for rejuvenation of lakes in Bangalore. The two…

In August last year, several individuals and groups working to save and protect different lakes of Bangalore met to exchanges notes and see how they could help one another. A report on this meeting can be read here. After interactions over the past year, Arbind Kumar Gupta and Balasubramanian Thirunavukkarasu, the two gentlemen who initiated this meeting, felt that the way forward was a formal platform - one that could bring different lake groups/trusts and social organizations/NGOs in Bangalore together, represent the voices and concerns of people of Bangalore, and work with government agencies for rejuvenation of lakes in Bangalore. The two…

All the chaos and disturbance of urban living quietly gets washed away when you stand in front of a lake and allow its spirit to engulf you. For some time now, Bhaskar and I have been feeling the call of lakes. It is a call which could not be ignored anymore. Introduced to lakes by Ramesh Sivaram (Visit to Kaikondanahalli lake), our journey began very recently, with baby steps taking us from one lake to another, trying to understand what ails our lakes and what can be done about it. This writeup is an attempt to document our learning and…

All the chaos and disturbance of urban living quietly gets washed away when you stand in front of a lake and allow its spirit to engulf you. For some time now, Bhaskar and I have been feeling the call of lakes. It is a call which could not be ignored anymore. Introduced to lakes by Ramesh Sivaram (Visit to Kaikondanahalli lake), our journey began very recently, with baby steps taking us from one lake to another, trying to understand what ails our lakes and what can be done about it. This writeup is an attempt to document our learning and…