Bellandur lake in Bengaluru catches fire again, plume of smoke engulfs area

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) too had stepped in asking the Karnataka government to shut down industrial units in its vicinity as toxic effluents from these plants were being discharged into the lake. .

Parts of Bengaluru’s Bellandur lake caught fire again on Sunday, engulfing the surrounding areas in smoke. A thick plume of smoke could be seen rising in the air from one side of the lake at about 4pm on Sunday.

Bellandur lake in Bengaluru caught fire again on Sunday.(ANI Photo)

Vasanthi Amar, joint commissioner of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, who visited the spot, said some dried weed had caught fire.

“It appears that some cattle herders had set fire to dried grass, so that fresh grass can grow there,” she said.

Amar said action will be taken against those responsible.

Bellandur lake had hit national headlines in February after it had caught fire. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) too had stepped in asking the Karnataka government to shut down industrial units in its vicinity as toxic effluents from these plants were being discharged into the lake.

A programme to remove the weed in the lake has been undertaken by the local authorities, and sewage entering the lake will also be checked as per the NGT’s order. CCTV cameras have been installed in the area to check indiscriminate dumping of waste.

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