Photos: Toxic foam plagues India's streets

Saturday, November 14, 2015, 6:31 PM - White toxic froth continues to flood the streets of Bengaluru, India and residents have had enough.

Since September, the snow-like flakes of foam have descended on the city.

Bengaluru is often described as India's Silicon Valley. However, tech headlines have been recently consumed by reports of the white froth.

Decades of excessive construction and industrialization have contaminated Bellandur Lake, Bengaluru's largest body of water. The cause of the smelly foam? Increased phosphate levels in the water, which worsens during periods of heavy downpour.

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"The floating foam felt dirty and caused itching," Sanchita Jha, a software engineer told the Pakistan Tribe. "I was embarrassed and angry. People were wondering if this was indeed the IT capital of the country."

Jha started a online petition on Change.org urging officials to clean up the lake. So far, over 30,000 people have signed. Meanwhile, a Twitter campaign and Facebook group targets the chief minister in charge.

“The froth singes the skin. We do not even park our vehicles near the lake. The vehicle loses its colour as froth settles on it,” Balu, a Bangalore resident living near Bellandur Lake writes on change.org.

The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) is responsible for fixing this situation, according to Jha. However, they have said they cannot do anything about the situation.

Due to high levels of hydrocarbons and oils in the water, the lake caught fire in May, Mashable reports.

"It spread like a forest fire," resident Abhinandan Y recalls on Facebook. "Today, the edges of the lake are pitch-black as if it's been burnt."

Residents say the smell is almost unbearable.

"The stench is so horrible that you have to close your nose to stand near the bridge. Even then, the air is so toxic that you can't stay for more than one minute," Abhinandan reports.

T Ramachandra, a professor at the Indian Institute of Science, visited the Lake with his students to collect water samples only to return with skin rashes, headaches and nausea.

"We monitored almost 80 lakes in Bengaluru and found out that 98 per cent of lakes face a similar problem."

Instead of searching for a long-term solution, local authorities have only taken temporary measures such as installing water sprinkler to dilute the foam.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has since taken action to stop the foam.

"I have spoken to BBMP Com and have asked him to take steps to permanently curb Bellandur lake pollution," the chief minister wrote on Twitter.

Here are what residents are saying on social media:

Source: Mashable | Pakistan Tribe