Bengaluru: Thousands of dead fish were discovered floating in Chikkanagamangala Lake, marking the second such ecological crisis in the city within two years. Residents suspect that toxic runoff from a nearby solid waste management facility operated by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is responsible for the fish deaths.
The lake, previously restored by Biocon, a pharmaceutical company, has become a symbol of environmental degradation. Locals allege that leachate—contaminated liquid from waste—has leaked into the water from the plant located just 300 meters away, despite earlier intervention by the National Green Tribunal (NGT). They claim that the facility resumed operations after a brief closure, and untreated waste continues to enter the lake through concealed pipelines.
Videos shared on the social media platform X showed distressing scenes of the dead fish, triggering a wave of public criticism. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Executive Chairman of Biocon, voiced her disappointment over the pollution, accusing government bodies of negligence. “It’s irresponsible to pollute a lake we worked so hard to revive. Sewage and toxic waste have destroyed all our efforts, despite assurances that the inlet would be closed,” she posted.
BBMP officials denied the allegations, asserting that a leachate-treatment unit capable of processing 50,000 litres per day was installed five months ago. They claimed the treated water is used exclusively for gardening and insisted that no untreated leachate is discharged into the lake. Officials suggested that the pollution could be from untreated sewage from a nearby village, which lacks an underground drainage system.
Despite these claims, residents remain skeptical, pointing out that concerns about the plant’s environmental impact have been raised since 2018, with no lasting solutions implemented. Social media groups criticized the authorities for their inaction, stating that warnings about potential contamination were repeatedly ignored.
The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has been notified of the incident, and officials are expected to inspect the site soon. Environmental activists and residents are demanding urgent measures to prevent further damage, warning that without stricter controls, similar ecological disasters are likely to occur again.
