A dispute over approvals for a sewage treatment plant (STP) expansion by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) at Saul Kere near Bellandur has highlighted a serious lack of coordination among agencies responsible for lake-related projects in Bengaluru.
BECC Orders Work Halt
The Bengaluru East City Corporation (BECC) has instructed BWSSB to immediately stop all ongoing construction activities at the site and produce the necessary permissions. BECC executive engineer Bhooprada informed TOI, "BWSSB claimed they have applied for permission with the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA), but KTCDA has not forwarded any communication to us. We will issue a notice to BWSSB to reverse the work already completed."
BECC chief engineer M Lokesh emphasized that BWSSB requires the corporation's approval because the lake falls under BECC's jurisdiction. "The project was discussed earlier, but BWSSB has not formally sought permission from the corporation," he stated.
BWSSB's Counter-Argument
However, a BWSSB official countered that the project has received government approval and presentations were made to both the BECC commissioner and the GBA chief commissioner. BWSSB additional chief engineer (projects-2) Venugopal KL added, "We are only upgrading an existing STP. The officials will complete the clearance process from other agencies soon."
Another BWSSB official working on the project argued that the initiative serves a public purpose. "This is not an encroachment; it is for a public cause. Since we are upgrading an existing STP by taking only about half an acre of land, separate approval should not be necessary," he said. He also noted that a public notification was issued well before work began.
The standoff underscores the bureaucratic hurdles and inter-agency friction that often delay critical infrastructure projects in the city.
