As per the CPCB’s list, the five contaminated sites in the city are Goripalya near Mysore Road, Mangammanapalya near Hosur Road, Peenya Industrial Area, Mavallipura dumpsite near Yelahanka, and Begur Lake. The list of probable contaminated sites includes Lalbagh Lake, Madiwala Lake, Hebbal Lake, Bellandur Lake, Kengeri Tank, Arekere Lake, Agara Lake, and Begur Lake.
Contaminated sites are delineated areas in which the constituents and characteristics of the toxic and hazardous substances, caused by humans, exist at levels and in conditions that pose existing or imminent threats to human health or the environment.
A decision made around 25 to 30 years ago resulted in the sale of 4 acres of land belonging to Arekere Lake. This sparked a lengthy legal battle that remains unresolved and continues to cast a shadow over the project’s timeline.
The central pollution watchdog then directed the state pollution control board to take necessary measures for the remediation of these sites and communicate about actions taken in that direction. However, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has not even sketched a revival plan. The board is still gearing up to make its second attempt at getting the sites delisted.
According to officials from KSPCB, the board is awaiting a project proposal from the Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) with details on fund requirements. The official informed BM that a letter was also issued to the institute a couple of months ago and discussions have followed.