Down To Earth | Vol 9, No 18 Feburary 15, 2001 |
THE Yediyur lake in Bangalore is very polluted, says a study conducted
by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), Bangalore. The ministry of environment
and forests funded the one-year study which was done by IISc's Centre for
Ecological Sciences(CES).
The CES study shows thatYediyur is now a cesspool clooged with domestic and
industrial sewage. The lake waters have become greenish black and are loaded
with high chloride levels.
Domestic and industrial effluents have also contaminated the water and its
total dissolved solids ranges from 208-428 milligramme per litre. its value of
biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), chlorides and
other impurities are much higher than the limits set by the World Health
Organisation and the Central Pollution Control Board. "The air around the
Yediyur is foul. It has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. There is an
immediate need to check its pollution," said Ramachandra T V, a scientist with
CES. The scientists, who coducted the study, have urged the state government
to take steps for the restorastion of the lake.