1. Citation and Link Bora, Sangeeta. "Bengaluru: Lakebeds Cleared, What about Stormwater Drains?" DeccanChronicle.com. Deccan Chronicle, 5 June 2015. Web. 4 Oct. 2015.
2. Quotes
"Koliwad [chairman of a House committee which handles affairs concerning encroachment of the lake] ordered the BBMP and BDA officials to clear the encroachments in a week’s time. However, it has been over a week now and the encroachments still remain."
"There are many industries near and on the catchment areas of Bellandur for many years now and they have been releasing toxic material into the lake. However, none of the authorities have so far taken action against them."
"Radha Joshi, a resident says, “We have been living in the most unhygienic conditions. There is always a bad odor and the air that we breathe is not at all clean. Our children fall sick very often.”"
3. Main Point
The lakes near the towns of Yemlur and Bellandur in Bengaluru are encroaching storm water drains. Residents have persistently been asking for the Greater Bengaluru Municipal Corporation (BBMP) to take action and clear the encroachment. The local committee has not helped to further press the issue, so no action has been taken.
Industry in the area have released toxic runoff into the lake consistently for some years now, causing the Bellandur area to be extremely susceptible to pollution related health issues. Residents were quoted saying that they live in incredibly "unhygenic conditions," and that their children were often sick from breathing this polluted air.
4. Actors
Koliwad- Koliwad is achairman on the House committee that is supposed to handle affairs involving encroachment on the lake. He was inspecting the lakes, and also ordered the BBMP to stop the encroachment in a weeks time, which had not happen as of the publication of this article.
Residents- The residents of Yemlur and Bellandur have been particularly affected by the lake's encroachment on the storm drains and by the pollution from the industry in the area. They have pleaded with Koliwad's committee.
Greater Bengaluru Municipal Corporation (BBMP)- The BBMP is supposedly responsible for cleaning up the encroachment, but was unable to do so within their requested time limit. The BBMP Commissioner has diverted responsibility to the State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB)- According to the BBMP Commissioner, the KSCPB is responsible for identifying "the defaulting industries and take[ing] the necessary action."
5. Causation/Responsibility Implied
Residents have plead to the House Committee for action. The Committee asked the BBMP to stop the encroachment, but did not do anything when the BBMP failed to do so. Then, the BBMP stated that it should've been the KSCPB handling the issue, and not them in the first place. This is an excellent example of a failure in governance, and communications. Ultimately, the only people affected are the residents of the area who have to suffer pollution related health issues.
6. Health Disparities/Equity Issues
The article touches on the lack of attention to the residents of the polluted area facing health issues and the lack of response from any government body, but does not go into depth on the subject.
7. Follow Up
After looking into both the BBMP and KSPCB, it would seem that the two organizations should've been equally responsible, or at least had some collaborative effort put in to stop the issue at hand.
Bora, Sangeeta. "Bengaluru: Lakebeds Cleared, What about Stormwater Drains?" DeccanChronicle.com. Deccan Chronicle, 5 June 2015. Web. 4 Oct. 2015.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/150605/nation-current-affairs/article/bengaluru-lakebeds-cleared-what-about-stormwater-drains
2. Quotes
"Koliwad [chairman of a House committee which handles affairs concerning encroachment of the lake] ordered the BBMP and BDA officials to clear the encroachments in a week’s time. However, it has been over a week now and the encroachments still remain."
"There are many industries near and on the catchment areas of Bellandur for many years now and they have been releasing toxic material into the lake. However, none of the authorities have so far taken action against them."
"Radha Joshi, a resident says, “We have been living in the most unhygienic conditions. There is always a bad odor and the air that we breathe is not at all clean. Our children fall sick very often.”"
3. Main Point
The lakes near the towns of Yemlur and Bellandur in Bengaluru are encroaching storm water drains. Residents have persistently been asking for the Greater Bengaluru Municipal Corporation (BBMP) to take action and clear the encroachment. The local committee has not helped to further press the issue, so no action has been taken.
Industry in the area have released toxic runoff into the lake consistently for some years now, causing the Bellandur area to be extremely susceptible to pollution related health issues. Residents were quoted saying that they live in incredibly "unhygenic conditions," and that their children were often sick from breathing this polluted air.
4. Actors
Koliwad- Koliwad is achairman on the House committee that is supposed to handle affairs involving encroachment on the lake. He was inspecting the lakes, and also ordered the BBMP to stop the encroachment in a weeks time, which had not happen as of the publication of this article.
Residents- The residents of Yemlur and Bellandur have been particularly affected by the lake's encroachment on the storm drains and by the pollution from the industry in the area. They have pleaded with Koliwad's committee.
Greater Bengaluru Municipal Corporation (BBMP)- The BBMP is supposedly responsible for cleaning up the encroachment, but was unable to do so within their requested time limit. The BBMP Commissioner has diverted responsibility to the State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB)- According to the BBMP Commissioner, the KSCPB is responsible for identifying "the defaulting industries and take[ing] the necessary action."
5. Causation/Responsibility Implied
Residents have plead to the House Committee for action. The Committee asked the BBMP to stop the encroachment, but did not do anything when the BBMP failed to do so. Then, the BBMP stated that it should've been the KSCPB handling the issue, and not them in the first place. This is an excellent example of a failure in governance, and communications. Ultimately, the only people affected are the residents of the area who have to suffer pollution related health issues.
6. Health Disparities/Equity Issues
The article touches on the lack of attention to the residents of the polluted area facing health issues and the lack of response from any government body, but does not go into depth on the subject.
7. Follow Up
After looking into both the BBMP and KSPCB, it would seem that the two organizations should've been equally responsible, or at least had some collaborative effort put in to stop the issue at hand.
BBMP site (english):
http://bbmp.gov.in/en/web/guest/home
BBMP wikipedia page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruhat_Bengaluru_Mahanagara_Palike
KSPCB site:
http://kspcb.gov.in/