Published in Dwarka Express on 28.1.23

Harohalli lake is one of the untouched lakes of about 90 acres. Situated in North Bangalore, the lake falls under the maintenance of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, the fourth largest Municipal Corporation in India. 164 species of birds, including migratory birds have been recorded in 2021-22 in the eBird India site by various renowned birders. The water here is appearing clean though it may not be and the lake gets partially or fully dry during hot summers.

Most of the lakes in Bangalore are rainfed, else the untreated sewage water gets into the lakes. In some lakes, water gets treated before entry into the lake. As per Karnataka State Pollution Control Board notification, 78 out of the 106 lakes are polluted and are unfit for aquatic life.

Harohalli lake is not an exception. The Strom water drains feed the lake and hardly any filtering of grey and black water happens naturally. The lake has a compound wall, built by BBMP, but is broken at many places to allow illegal entry, since the lake is closed for public during night. But this is the best time suitable for unauthorised fishing. Even during the day time also fishing happens by authorised contractors. Only fish is taken, not the water, argues the less informed.  Who can challenge the bureaucracy that fishing should not be allowed to maintain ecological balance.

Water Birds reach a waterbody only if the lake has enough of fishes. The ecological balance gets disturbed in this way, ultimately to give up completely to the onslaught. Pervasive weeds like Ipomoea and hyacinth flourish in dirty water and one day, the said lake fails to exist. One day, a Real Estate giant targets the lake and builds skyscrapers and this story is endless.

 Every Bangalorean agrees that the lakes are our lifelines. Why then the number of lakes is dwindling? The once garden city has slowly turned into garbage city and a day will come when the city will be lack of lakes

Published in Dwarka Express on 21.1.23

Allow unscientific de-weeding: Unmindful de-weeding kills micro-organisms like algae, phytoplankton and zooplankton which are rich in nutrients. Unscientific de-weeding removes Vallisneria and other useful algae and leads to deterioration of the quality of water and imbalance of the ecosystem, leading to the disturbance of the food chain. Every living organism needs food, why don’t we realise this basic fact?

Allow Unauthorised Fishing: Water is for fishing, why can’t this be allowed? The birds or natural fishing within limits do not disturb the eco balance. But lakes, mostly urban lakes, which are very natural, rainfed are useful in recharging the water table depends on sustainability. Fishes play an important role

Concretize bunds: Quite often, an urbanite can see that the lake bunds are cemented or concretised. In olden times lakes were formed due to natural depression in land mass and thus the drained-out rainwater accumulates somewhere and form the natural waterbody.  Storm water drains have become a important link. But concretised bunds are detrimental to the natural waterbodies. The bunds are concretised to enable walkers to feel comfortable, but they really miss the natural heel therapy by walking in uneven terrain

Make the lake a picnic spot: With boating facilities, food courts and children play areas, the modern lifestyle may be boosted but the lakes will simply become a picnic spot, relegating the importance of the water resource management to backseat. In the process, the aquatic life is disturbed unfortunately. It is a slow poison and its impact become visible after years

Plant exotic species: Tree planting has become a fashion rather than a passion. Often exotic species of trees, mono culture and ornamental plants beautify the bunds. Either they perish or disturb the local eco balance. Plants like lantana have mushroomed out on many areas. Partheniums and other dangerous weeds are common scene.

Connect sewage lines: Rainwater drains have turned into sewers of late. Stormwater drains are either clogged or encroached upon by building mafias. Often, one can notice that residential sewers are connected to nearby waterbodies. Untreated water pours into the waterbodies harming the aquatic life.

Remove grasslands: In the eyes of myopic politicians, blinkered real estate mafia and bigoted bureaucrats, grasslands and scrub jungles are waste lands and need to be removed. But these are important links in the ecosystem and helps in energy flow and nutrient cycling. Abundant abiotic and biotic components of the grasslands are instrumental in lake ecosystem succession and development.

Permit constructions: In buffer zones of lakes, construction is not permitted. In Karnataka it is 30 meters around the lake in which no construction should come up, and in most of the lakes, one can see the violations. Most of the lake view apartments are lack of this wisdom, and all apartments throw the untreated water into the lake. The rainwater drains from residential areas have conveniently turned into sewage drains

Avoid desilting of inlets/outlets: Lakes are interconnected through rainwater drains, which are unauthorisedly used for letting out sewerage water from commercial and residential areas. Often, one can find the inlets and outlets clogged due to sedimentation. Inlets and outlets become an easy breeding ground for the mosquitos and other pests. Stagnant grey water speeds up the process

Allow light & sound This is the most cosmetic way to scare away birds and animals. Beautification is an ugly word for lake management and ensuring 24 hours accessibility in fenced lakes result in unlawful activities. Sound and lights add to pollution and results in disturbing the placidity and tranquillity of aquatic life

So…urban lakes are the easy victims for man-made destruction and the above are some of the tips to destroy lakes and the choice is ours!

Editorial by V Selvarajan in Delhi based weekly Dwarka Express dt 21.1.2023

Joshimath and its aftermath. It is the most discussed topic in media and social platforms nowadays. It is formidable, unpredictable and beyond human conception whether it is going to be a massive disaster. A recent report justifies our trepidations as there are cracks and alarm in Karnaprayag which is just 82 kms southwest of Joshimath. Is it an indication of the ensuing calamity? Frequent landslides and cave-ins are routine occurrence for the hill dwellers and they are well accustomed to it. But flash-floods, cloudbursts and massive cracks indicate that the Himalayas speak loud about the vulnerability of man-made disasters. It has been understood that homes in a number of hill areas like Uttarkashi, Nainital, Karnprayag, Gopeshwar and Mussorie have developed major cracks. Activists have vehemently questioned the bursting of dynamite and drilling for the purpose of the Rishikesh-Karnprayag railway line project and the Char Dham road expansion Project. As usual the decision makers show callousness to the early warnings

Himalayas always have been in news whether its Ketarnath cloudburst or landslides, earthquakes or flash floods elsewhere, though the most vulnerable region in Himalayas had always been Garhwal division. From 1976 till date, several committees by various Governments sounded dire consequences if proper environmental impact assessment (EIA) is not undertaken. However, under the garb of development and economical growth, we have ignored the environmental concerns always. Whenever there is a cry from environmental organisations, the investigation panels undertake a spot visit and submit their report on the basis of physical investigation. However, such investigations reportedly do not include geophysical, geotechnical or hydrological study. It appears that the Disaster Management Authorities have come out of the hide to ensure proper investigation, of late.

So, the aftermath of Joshimath can’t be ascertained at the moment and the future of the hill dwellers and travellers are bleak. Some of the immediate priorities are evacuation, rehabilitation, stoppage of the hill cutting works and heavy explosion infra projects, besides warranting controlled population pressure and discouraging tourists to visit the affected areas. Giving a lame excuse to stop the infra projects and jeopardizing the precious lives of the people will land us nowhere.

Published in Dwarka Express on 7.1.23

  “To enable citizen participation, an SUP Public Grievance App was launched by Hon’ble Minister EF&CC, Shri Bhupender Yadav and comprehensive directions have been issued to all stake holders. By doing so, the Government has proved its seriousness to control SUPs. So, CPCB is hell bent to enforce SUP ban from July 22. India is a vast country with 140 crore population most of whom might not have gone through the new set of rules. It is therefore understandable that implementation would take time. It is the duty of every Indian to raise to the occasion to address this issue seriously. South Express expects that there would be many violations reported in the App. It is going to be a formidable task to address all grievances. Nevertheless, it is also true that if we miss the bus this time, it will not be possible to return to the plastic free era. Will the SUPs vanish? Let us not wait and watch, but ACT NOW!”

Ban on SUP was enforced from 1.7.22. South Express recently made a country wide survey, to find the effectiveness of the ban. Many participated in the survey and the general feedback is that there is no visible change in the usage of SUPs. Some were of the firm opinion that there should be a strict ban on manufacturing of the SUPs.

As per the Plastic Waste Management (PWM) Rules, 2016, there is a complete ban on sachets using plastic material used for storing, packing or selling gutkha, tobacco and pan masala. As per PWM (Amended) Rules, 2021, the manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of carry bags made of virgin or recycled plastic less than seventy-five microns has been banned with effect from 30th September, 2021 as opposed to fifty microns recommended earlier under PWM Rules, 2016. Additionally, the notification of 12^th August 2021, prohibits manufacture, import, stocking, distribution, sale and use of the identified single use plastic items, which have low utility and high littering potential with effect from the 1st July, 2022. All said and done, the SUPs are yet to bid adieu!