TimesView It’s one thing for the forest department to set a deadline to stop sewage from being let into a lake and another thing altogether to ensure compliance and see to it that the objective is met. Residents of the area have put up with it for years and the forest department’s move is most welcome. Now comes the tough part — getting offenders to comply with the order and ensure they don’t return to their polluting ways once the spotlight is off. It’s up to institutions to realise that it’s all for the larger good. Bengaluru’s water bodies have faced abuse for far too long. BENGALURU: Residents of Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Mylasandra, who have been fighting to protect the Mylasandra Lake located in Turahalli forest of southwest Bengaluru, got a shot in the arm on Friday. The Karnataka forest department, the custodian of the 19-acre water body spread, has set a 15-day deadline for BGS Trust, which runs a students hostel and a hospital, to ensure no sewage is let into the lake. In the absence of a proper sewage treatment plant, untreated sewage has been ruining the water body.Punati Sridhar, principal chief conservator of forests (head of forest force), said BGS authorities have been allowed 15 days to fix the problem of sewage entering the lake. “Few months ago, residents had blocked the sewage line extending from the hostel that was feeding the lake with pollutants. Now, we have learnt that sewage is coming from the hospital. If the problem continues, we will take strict action against the people concerned,” he added.Membesr of Rajarajeshwari Nagar — I Care, a citizen forum, which has been fighting to protect the lake, recently sought the intervention of Nirmalananda Swamiji, seer of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, which runs the trust. “The seer seemed clueless about the faulty STP. After we briefed him, he said he’d look into it,” said Vishal Suresh, a member of the forum.Residents claimed that in January, when their RWA had held a meeting with BGS officials, the latter had assured to resolve the issue within a week. “But even after several weeks, sewage continues to flow into the lake,” said another resident of RR Nagar.The lake which was earlier under BBMP’s jurisdiction, was transferred to the forest department seven years ago.Since 2006, nearly four FIRs have been lodged against the lake polluters. Repeated attempts to reach out to BGS authorities for response went in vain.Bengaluru: Residents of Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Mylasandra, who have been fighting to protect Mylasandra Lake located in Turahalli forest of southwest Bengaluru, got a shot in the arm on Friday. The Karnataka forest department, the custodian of the 19-acre water body spread, has set a 15-day deadline for BGS Trust, which runs a students hostel and a hospital, to ensure no sewage is let into the lake. With no proper sewage treatment plant, untreated sewage has been ruining water body.Punati Sridhar, principal chief conservator of forests (head of forest force), said BGS authorities have been allowed 15 days to fix the problem of sewage entering the lake. “Few months ago, residents had blocked the sewage line extending from the hostel that was feeding the lake with pollutants. Now, we have learnt that sewage is coming from the hospital. If the problem continues, we will take strict action against the people concerned,” he added.Member of Rajarajeshwari Nagar — I Care, a citizen forum, which has been fighting to protect the lake, recently sought the intervention of Nirmalananda Swamiji, seer of Adichunchanagiri Mutt, which runs the trust. “The seer seemed clueless about the faulty STP. After we briefed him, he said he’d look into it,” said Vishal Suresh, a member of the forum. Residents claimed that in January, when their RWA had held a meeting with BGS officials, the latter had assured to resolve the issue within a week. “But even after several weeks, sewage continues to flow into the lake,” said another resident of RR Nagar. The lake which was earlier under BBMP’s jurisdiction, was transferred to the forest department seven years ago.Repeated attempts to reach out to BGS authorities for response went in vain.

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