AQUATIC HOTSPOT Bellandur Tank
	Setting | Threats | Knowledge Individuals | Habitat | Life Scape | Management

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

SETTING

Location	Located in the eastern part of Bangalore city.
Area (in ha or sq km)	361.3 ha Length : 3.6 kms Width : 1.4 kmDepth : 5.0 mts and Shore line : 12.7 Kms
Latitude / Longitude	Lat : 12degrees 15', Long : 77 degrees 38'
Village/Town/Taluk/District	Bellandur, Bangalore.
Maps (Kind of map and the scale)	Enclosed
Mode of access (Distance from Railway / Bus Station	The tank can be approached by road through ring road, Agara to Bellandur Village and from there, the tank is about 1 km. It can also be reached form Marthahalli to Kempapura Village(on the road to White field).
Facilities to stay closest to the Hotspot	No facility for stay. From Bangalore, it can be easily approached.
Tariff (if any) to be paid to visit the Hotspot	Nil
Controlling authorities	Lake Development Authority, Government of Karnataka.
Classes of landscape	The tank is located in Kormangala-Challaghatta valley towards the upper reaches and to right sides of the tank, there are factories and Kempapura village, to the left side, Bellandur village is located. Below the bund of the tank, the achkat is cultivated .
Water body	The tank is receiving waste water from urbanized areas of cantonment, Ulsoor, Indiranagar, Domlur, HAL, HAL Airport, NAL and Koramangala. A portion of treated effluent from the aerated lagoon from HAL Complex is let into the tank. The overflow water of the tank joins Varthur tank. The Bellandur tank water is mainly used for irrigation (Paddy and Vegetables), in the achkat of the tank. The tank is reported to have caused health hazards to the public living in the surroundings villages of Bellandur, Belur, Kempapura, Nagasandra, Challaghatta, Egipura, Jakkasandran, Yemalur, Venkatapura, Agara, Iblur.
Human population Kempapura Nagasandra Ejipura Jakkasandra Yamalur Venkatapura Agara Bellandur Iblur	Total Families SC ST Population 2000 30 10 10 5000 50 30 25 3000 10 40 50 4000 30 50 50 3000 20 100 100 3000 20 50 50 7500 30 100 100 4000 20 25 25 500 10 50 50
Presence of Schedule tribes or Nomadic tribes population	Nil
Live stock	Cattle, poultry, piggery etc.,
Irrigation status and major crops	Paddy, Ragi, Vegetables
Significant forest produce	Nil
Quantities recorded at the Range or Divisional Forest Office.	Nil
Cooperative Societies and their transactions	There was one Fishermen Cooperative Society at Kempapura having 150 members of the surrounding villages.
Significant freshwater fish productions.	In 1970's about 150 fishermen were engaged in fishing. They were using 75 coracles, 150 gillnet 45 dragnets cast nets 30 and they were harvesting about 100-150 kgs of fish per coracle. The Society used to dispose the fishery by
	auction and the revenue realized was paid to fishermen after deducting at the 5 paise per kg of fish. Catla, Mrigal, Common Carp, Silver carp Singhi, Murrels. P.ticto and M. vittatus were the domina fish species. Prawns were also harvested in good quantity. There is no fishing activities from 1973. At present, few people are engaged in fishing to catch African catfish. It is reported that the African catfish has bred in the Tank.
Disposal of fishing rights (Leasing / Auctioning/ Licence)	Licensing
Significant shell fish / marine fish productions	Nil
Number and type of fishing crafts / gears .	Crafts coracles and theppas; fishing nets of various mesh-sizes, castnets, dragnets, plunge-baskets, rod and line, long-line etc.
Nearest fish landing centres and disposal system.	Kempapura and disposal is by auction.
Availability of fish processing facilities	Nil
Mining and quarrying activities in the area.	Nil
Sources and extent of air and water pollution	Formerly the factory effluents and domestic sewage used to drain into Challaghatta tank which was acting as a settling tank and the supernatent water used to be let into Bellandur tank. As a result, Bellandur tank water was used to be congenial and was responsible for the high fish production. Presently, Challaghatta tank is converted into residential lay-outs and the effluents
	And domestic sewage started entering into Bellandur tank directly. Thus the water became highly polluted and lot of debris accumulated at the bottom. Heavy fish mortality was noticed every year during summer months. Gradually fishery disappeared. Quite recently, the Lake Development Authority in order to restore the tank from pollutional threat have installed floating aerators and have resorted to bacterial culture to decompose the organic mater in the tank.
Prevalence of human diseases.	Skin rashes, Malaria are reported.
Educational Institutions	There are Primary and Upper primary Schools are the surrounding villages.
Co-operative Societies	Kempapura Meenugarara Sahakara Sangha, Kempapura. This Society is now defunct. When it was functioning, there were about 150 members from the surrounding villages.
Youth clubs	Nil
Ladies club	Nil
Active NGO's	Nil

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THREATS AND SUPPORTIVE RESTORATION ACTIVITIES

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LIST OF KNOWLEDGE INDIVIDUALS

 

Name	Age	Sex	Community	Address
Shri. Nallappa	60	Male	Thigala	Fisherman Kempapura
Shri. S. Muniyappa	65	Male	Thigala	Fisherman Kempapura
Shri. K.M Shyma	68	Male	Thigala	Fisherman Kempapura
Shri. K.M Shyma	55	Male	Thigala	Fisherman Kempapura
Shri. S. Ramappa	50	Male	Thigala	Fisherman Kempapura
Shri. Muniraju	40	Male	Thigala	Fisherman Kempapura
Shri.S. Shiva	55	Male	Thigala	Fisherman Kempapura
Shri. Solappa	55	Male	Thigala	Fisherman Kempapura
Shri. Cheluvappa	60	Male	Thigala	Fisherman Kempapura
Shri. Shanmugan	62	Male	Thigala	Fisherman Kempapura

A	Preparation of sketch map of the landscape  :
1	For zone of influence		Enclosed
2	For zone of influence		Enclosed
B	Description of Habitat types
1	Habitat name		Perennial tank
2	Local name (if any)		Bellandur tank
3	Approximate total area (ha.)		361.3ha.
4	Special significance of the habitat type (if any)		This was one of the highly fish productive tank, producing about 400 tons of fish annually. About 300 people used to a camp at the tank for a period of 3 months and used to harvest fish
5	Management regimes		The Department of Fisheries was engaged in annual stocking of catla, Mrigal, Common carp, Grass carp and Silver carp, fingerlings. There used to be significant growth of the species introduced in addition to local species. The Department used to manage the fishery and were issuing licences for fishing. There is also a nursery nearby established for rearing of fish seed before stocking them
6	Goods and services provided by the habitat		About 400 tons of fish was harvested every year. Jussiaea plant was provided as fodder to the cattle
7	Bads and disservices provided by the habitat		Highly polluted water gradually rendered the tank unproductive and the water hyacinth acted as a menace
8	Significant ecological processes influenced by the habitat type		The disappearance of Challaghatta tank (its area is converted into a layout for human habitation) has caused havoc by direct entry of untreated domestic sewage and factory effluents
9	Significant man-induced processes influenced by the habitat		As at ‘8' above
10	Interacting individuals and institutions (Local		Water Supply and Sewerage Board Lake Development Authority, Pollution Control Board, Department of Fisheries.
11	Activities		Water Supply and Sewerage Board has established one treatment plant. Lake Development Authority proposes to restore to tank. Pollution Control Broad may monitor the quality of water.
12	Interacting individuals and institutions (External)		As in 11 above
13	Activities		The Lake Development Authority may restore the Bellandur tank Water Supply and Sewage Board may install few more treatment plants. The Pollution Control Board may monitor water and soil quality etc.
C	History of important habitat patches over 10-15/40-50 years
1	Type and name of the habitat patch		The Bellandur tank is a perennial Tank.
2	Change in
i	Area		Water spread area is reduced to some extent.
ii	Vegetation strata		Water hyacinth, Juessiaea Colacasia, typaha, Agrostics etc Cypress, found in small patches.
3	Aquatic habitat change in
i	Catchment area		Now totally human habitated
ii	Aquatic fauna		The fishery, once, was flourishing. Presently it is absent.
4	Significant ecological processes influencing the habitat patch		The entry of untreated effluents and sewage has affected the water quality and the accumulated debris has created shallowness
5	Significant man-induced processes influencing the habitat patch		- Do -
6	Productivity of Goods and services		There used to be considerable fish production from the tank and the harvested fish was marketed to local and urban people.
7	tent of bads and disservices		Nil
8	Reasons for ongoing changes		Not taking care of treating water before it is allowed to enter the tank
9	Gainers		Farmers who collect Jussiaea and feed the cattle
10	Losers		Fishermen Local people
11	Desired changes / desired future		Water should be treated before allowing it to enter the tank by establishment adequate number of treatment plants. The factories should treat the water before allowing it to drain into the tank. Pollution Control board should insist on establishing treatment plants and the quality of water discharged should be monitored by the KSPCB.
12	Desired management system		Lake Development Authority proposes to retore the tank. It may be assisted by all the concerned and a Committee may be constituted to monitor the progress
13	Suggested component for a feasible management plan for the habitat patch		- do

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LIFE SCAPE

(a) Naturally occurring species of significance

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(c) History of significant species / varieties

1.	Most common local name of the species (Language)	African catfish.
2.	Scientific name	Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)
3.	Most common local name of variety	Anemeenu.
4.	Existing management authority	Since the fishery is very poor on account of the adverse conditions, nobody is managing the fishery. Airport authorities have advised that no fishery should be developed in the tank. The fish farm located nearby is defunct. To restore the water body to normal conditions ecologically, late development authority has assumed overall control of the tank and action has already been initiated in this direction.
5.	Fish breeding season	Monsoon season
6.	Fishing methods (types of nets used)	Occasional gillnets are operated.
7.	Current level of abundance	Nil- The tank fishery, save African catfish is totally absent.
8.	Trend in abundance in last 10-15 /40-50 years.	It was one of the most productive tank as for as fishery is concerned. The Catla, Rohu, Mrigal, Common Carp, Grass carp , seller carp, used to attain a record size of 2 ½ to 5 Kg per year. There used to be a temporary camp of about 50 fishermen of Koppam (AP) to harvest fish in addition to local 150 fishermen during summer months. Daily about 2500 – 3000 Kgs of fish used to be harvested. The fish caught was auctioned in lots. Bellandur tank fish was sent to Calcutta in those days. Situation, more or less, continued upto 1973. Plantius ticto dominated in the tank and other fishery declined gradually Plantius ticto was caught to an extent of 4- 5 Kgs in one castnet operation. Huge quantity of fish was caught in early 1970's. This used to be sold in fresh condition and part of the catch was sun- dried and it was sold to poultry feed producers and also for local consumption.
9.	Significant ecological processes influencing the species / varieties.	No indigenous fishes are found in the tank as the conditions are un-favourable. Only the African catfish is thriving in the tank
10.	Significant man induced processes influencing the species / variety	The breaching of Challaghatta tank lead to converting the tank bed as sites and the sedimentation. That used to take place in respect of sewage and effluents, totally stopped and they started flowing into Bellandur Tank directly. This adverse process affected the fishery of the tank totally.
11.	Reasons for the ongoing changes	The lapse on the part of the responsible institutions not taking timely action to lead to the present situation. Expansion of layouts, (dwelling extensions), increased population etc are responsible for this situation.
12.	Gainers : Internal / External	Brofuse growth of aquatic plant Jussiaea spp, water hyacinth, etc in the tank is proving to be quite beneficial. The weed plant is being utilized as a fodder for the cattle, both in the neighbouring villages, and distant places like Kolar as draught conditions are prevailing. This is a boon to farmers who are maintaining cattle.
13.	Losers : Internal / External	The health conditions of the people in the neighbouring villages is affected on account of foul smell and bad quality of water which has affected the ground water too. The open-well water in the area has become unfit for human consumption.
14.	Desired changes / desired future	As contemplated, the Lake Development Authority may take immediate steps to restore the tank. When once it is restored, the entry of untreated sewage and effluents shall stop. The quality of water should be assessed periodically
15.	Desired management system	When the International Airport at Devanahalli is commissioned, the tank may be utilized for fisheries development, boating and related recreational activities.
16.	Suggested component for a feasible management plan for the species / variety	The African catfish is the only representative of the fishery of the tank. The fish has also migrated to Varthur tank. To prevent their entry further to other water bodies this should be controlled by selecting harvesting by employing effective nets, traps long-lines etc.,

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MANAGEMENT (For core area, zone of influence)

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