Union HRD minister Prakash Javdekar has expressed concern at the environmental hazard at Bellundur lake in Bengaluru. He termed the incident of fire, foam and smell emanating out of the lake as a man made disaster. Speaking to media persons after visiting the lake yesterday, he said it is a man made disaster due to inaction for over 50 years. Recalling his visit in 2015 when he was Environment minister, Mr Javdekar told media persons that Central Government had sanctioned 887 crore rupees to the state under Amrut Yojana for sewage treatment in Bengaluru. <br/><br/><br/>The State Government has given Utility certificate for using 454 crore rupees of the sanctioned amount. An amount of 10 crore rupees was exclusively given for sewage plants meant for Bellundur lake. The Union minister noted that sewage is still released into lakes converting Bengaluru, the city of lakes, into city of lakes on fire.<br/><br/><br/>AIR correspondent reports that every time Bellundur lake spews fire, foam and nauseating smell there is hue and cry, but problem remains. The State Pollution Control Board and other civic bodies in Bengaluru were issued notices by the National Green Tribunal to clean Bellundur lake of chemicals and sewage inflow. The industries and apartments around the lake were asked to use sewage treatment plants for recycling the sewage water for gardening and cleaning of vehicles. <br/><br/>The army personnel and fire personnel relentlessly worked to douse fire on the lake since last two days. The fire has come under control now but heavy smoke has filled a vast stretch of the lake. A soldier of Army Service Corps was bitten by a snake during the operation yesterday and rushed to the army hospital where he was declared out of danger.