12 Ganesh immersion tanks built

BANGALORE: The Civil Engineering Department of University Visversvarayya College of Engineering (UVCE) has constructed around 12 small immersion tanks in the city ahead of the Ganesh Habba to combat pollution.“This is will take place as a part of the project to rejuvenate 12 lakes at the cost of `104 crore allotted by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in 2010,” said Professor H N Ramesh from the Department of Civil Engineering.The lakes -- Ullal lake, Malathalli lake, Kammaghatta lake, Kothanur lake, Konasandra lake, Thalagatpura lake, Jakkur lake, Rachenahalli lake, Ramasandra lake and Venakteshapura lake, Madavara Lake, and Doddabidarakallu lake -- was a study in point for professors and students to understand development and its impact on the environment.“Initially, the challenge was dewatering the lake of its existing contaminated water.Since the lakes were situated near industrial areas or dense habitation, the water was polluted,” explained Professor A S Ravikumar, incharge of the project. Water from Doddabidarakallu lake, situated close to the Jindal industrial area, was even found to have traces of Chromium.The next challenge was to divert sewage and contaminated storm water from entering the lake waters. “We converted about 30 per cent of the lake area into wetlands designed to act as settling tanks. Though, we managed to divert sewerage flow from entering storm water drains near the lake, the water had to be free of heavy metals and sediments. As contaminated water passes through the wetland, the plants planted around the area absorbs the heavy metals clearing the water from contamination,” he said.“The sewage treatment plant (STP) at Malathalli lake is nearing completion and Jakkur already has one.BWSSB has plans to set up STPs in other lakes,” he said.What is interesting is that the project does not stop at rejuvenation. Solutions for continual protection of lakes including construction of separate small immersion tanks/tank with a dimension of 15.7mtr/13.5mtr with three meters depth near the lake for the immersion of Ganesha idols during the festival has been provided.