Mysore, May 25 (KK&KMC)- The decades-old problem of sewage water flowing into city's lakes will finally be solved by the installation of waste water treatment plants at Kukkarahalli Kere, Karanji Kere and Dalvoy Kere (Nanjangud Road).

MCC Commissioner K.S. Raikar told Star of Mysore this morning that the treatment plants will be installed as per Build, Own, Operate and Transfer (BOOT) scheme. Tender process for Kuk-karahalli Lake will commence tomorrow while rest of the lakes' tenders will be completed in 10 days, Raikar said.

Mayor inspects Karanji Lake

Mayor Sandesh Swamy, who was on his regular Ward-wise padayatra in Siddhartha Layout this morning, inspected the sewage water flowing into Karanji Lake.

He sought information about the steps taken in the recent past to prevent the Lake's pollution. When the MCC officials present at the spot were unable to clarify the doubts, an irked Mayor berated the officials and walked away in a huff.

Karanji Lake is being polluted by sewage water directly flowing into the Lake every day. The sewage water, coming all the way from Yeraganahalli and Siddhartha Layout through the Under Ground Drainage (UGD), flows into the storm-water drain and into the Karanji Lake.

A lot of solid wastes including plastic articles and footwear get collected at the mesh installed at the Lake's entry point, which need to be removed manually everyday.

The sewage water further connects to MRC junction and flowing via Exhibition Ground (M.G. Road), reaches the Waste Water Treatment Plant at Sewage Farm.

The problem, though decades old, has now aggravated owing to the increase in city's population. Besides, the UGD measuring 1.5 ft in diameter, was installed a decade ago under the ADB grants.

Vani Vilas Water Works Executive Engineer Subrahmanya told Star of Mysore this morning that there was a proposal to replace the existing UGD with a new pipeline of 3 metres diameter. However, the proposal was shelved because of the existing line being 8 mts. deep from end to end. "If a new line is to be laid having gravitational flow, it would have to be laid even deeper," said Subrahmanya and added that it was impractical as the line would go very deep at the end point near Karanji Lake.

The total length of the UGD is 6 kms; 2 kms from Yeraganahalli to MRC and 4 kms from MRC to Sewage Farm.

"Another proposal made earlier was to construct wet-wells near the lakes and pump the sewage water to MRC. Even this was shelved, considering the non-viability of the project which needed a lot of investment," Subrahmanya said.

The treatment plant project is the outcome of repeated complaints made by former Zoo Executive Director Vijay Ranjan Singh to the MCC Commissioner, it is learnt.

If immediate steps are not taken, the water of Karanji Lake will be totally polluted with the sewage water polluting the Lake atmosphere making it unfit for public use and also boating, according to Zoo authorities.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore