BDA plans to provide mud to farmers from Varada lake

The Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA) is planning to dig up sludge from the Varthur lake to the farmers so that they can use it as fertilizer on their agricultural land. The BDA claims that, as per the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) report, the sludge is suitable for agricultural purposes.

“After starting the de-silting work at the Varthur lake in November last year, we started questioning the farmers living in the surrounding villages. We will transport the sludge as per the requirement of those farmers who have arable land within a range of five to six kilometers.

In a press release, the BDA said that interested farmers can submit their applications to their site office for sludge.

The Development Authority, at the behest of the National Green Tribunal, is currently abolishing the Varthur and Bellandur lakes. According to official estimates, Varathur Lake, which is spread over 434 acres, was filled with 1.3 million cubic meters of silt. Officials claim that they have removed the sludge with the help of heavy machinery.

The official said, “After finishing the lake, we threw mud at the bottom of the lake to dry. He said that the state government has identified two mines in Milesandra and Vitasandra to dump the additional sludge. Together, the two mines are spread over 18 acres.

According to sources, the BDA is awaiting a report by the KSPCB on whether silt extracted from the Bellandur lake can be used as fertilizer in agricultural land.

“The lake, which is spread over 916 acres, has 2.6 million cubic meters of silt. Out of this, 1 million cubic meters of silt has been extracted. The BDA official said that we will provide sludge to the farmers on the basis of KSPCB report from Belsand lake.