Bellandur Lake
| Bellandur Lake ಬೆಳ್ಳಂದೂರು ಕೆರೆ/ಕೊಳ/ಹಳ್ಳ |
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| Location | Bellandur, Bangalore, Karnataka, India |
| Coordinates | 12°56′3″N 77°39′46″E / 12.93417°N 77.66278°ECoordinates: 12°56′3″N 77°39′46″E / 12.93417°N 77.66278°E |
| Type | Lake |
| Primary outflows | Varthur Lake |
| Catchment area | 148 km2 (57 sq mi) |
| Max. length | 3.6 km (2.2 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.4 km (0.87 mi) |
| Surface area | 3.61 km2 (1.39 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 9.21 m (30.2 ft) |
| Frozen | Never |
| Settlements | Bangalore |
Bellandur Lake is a lake in the suburb of Bellandur in the southeast of the city of Bangalore and is the largest lake in the city. It is a part of Bellandur drainage system that drains the southern and the south-eastern parts of the city. The lake is a receptor from three chains of lakes upstream, and has a catchment area of about 148 square kilometres (37,000 acres). Water from this lake flows further east to the Varthur Lake, from where it flows down the plateau and eventually into the Pinakani river basin. It is currently highly polluted with sewage, and in May 2015 the foam covering the water surface caught fire and burned for hours.
Bellandur Lake is believed to be originally a tributary of the Dakshina Pinakini river (also known as the Ponnaiyar River). The lake itself was constructed during the reign of the Western Ganga Dynasty who ruled between the 4-5th century to 10th century CE. Evidences of early human settlement have been excavated along the bed of the Bellandur lake by historian Dr. PV Krishnamurthy.
Bellandur Lake is a major water body which is located in one of the three main valleys of Bangalore. It forms a part of the Ponnaiyar River catchment, and water from Bellandur flows to Varthur Lake, ultimately joining the Pennar River. Currently, most of Bengaluru's treated and untreated sewage is released into Bellandur Lake, severely polluting it, resulting in a depletion of wildlife in and around the lake. Residential and commercial activities in the region have resulted in increasing the silt deposition in the lake and have caused loss of underground water recharge.
The lake was a prominent catchment area with a good green cover and was a watering hole for the region's numerous, indigenous wildlife. But 30 years of unplanned urbanization have taken a toll on the lake, now several species are gone from the area, including kingfishers, parrots, parakeets, wood pigeons, kites, king cobras, rat snakes, monitor lizards. As more and more large apartment complexes come up on the lakes shores, more such species will disappear.
The land around the lake is used as a dumping ground by builders and housing societies in the area. Since early 2000s, nearby areas have been dumping untreated sewage and industrial waste into the lake unchecked. From The combination of all these factors have led to a decline in the once robust eco-system of the lake which now resembles a stinking cesspool. Residents in neighboring areas complain of an odious stench that rises from the lake as a result of uninhibited sewage and chemical dumping from near by industrial units. The presence of industrial chemicals in the water causes the lake surface to catch fire regularly.
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Wikipedia