Bengaluru’s Saul Kere: From biodiversity haven to construction zone - A CitizenMatters story

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 https://citizenmatters.in/bengalurus-saul-kere-from-biodiversity-haven-to-construction-zone/

The article examines the rapid ecological decline of Saul Kere, a lake near Sarjapur Road in Bengaluru, due to sewage pollution, unchecked urbanisation, encroachment, and infrastructure development. Once a thriving wetland supporting rich biodiversity, the lake is now under increasing environmental pressure. Birdwatchers recorded nearly 180 bird species in 2019, while the eBird database lists 213 species, making Saul Kere one of Bengaluru's most important bird habitats. However, sewage inflow and habitat degradation have caused a noticeable decline in bird populations and repeated fish kills.

Residents and conservation groups attribute the pollution to sewage entering the lake through stormwater drains, overflowing sewage channels, underground drainage pipelines laid by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), and wastewater discharged by nearby establishments. They argue that inadequate maintenance of drainage infrastructure has worsened contamination, damaging the lake ecosystem and surrounding bunds. 

The article focuses on the controversy surrounding BWSSB's proposal to build a 40-million-litre-per-day (MLD) sewage treatment plant (STP) within the lake's buffer zone. While BWSSB argues that the plant is necessary to prevent sewage from entering nearby lakes, residents and environmentalists contend that the facility is oversized for Saul Kere's needs and should instead be built on government land outside the protected area. They also highlight that the lake already has two smaller STPs and question the lack of public consultation and environmental clearances.

 Citizen groups further allege that construction activities have damaged the lake's bunds and violated legal buffer-zone protections under National Green Tribunal guidelines and the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority Act. They advocate decentralised sewage treatment and source-level wastewater management as more sustainable alternatives. The article concludes that unless sewage inflow is stopped, encroachments removed, and illegal construction halted, Saul Kere risks losing its wetland ecosystem and becoming another example of Bengaluru's disappearing lakes.

Read the entire article here   https://citizenmatters.in/bengalurus-saul-kere-from-biodiversity-haven-to-construction-zone/

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