Bengaluru: Here’s a cocktail named after Varthur lake, city’s most polluted water body

An entrepreneur's recent social media post has piqued the interests of Bengalureans. It highlights a restaurant's unconventional approach to addressing the city's environmental issues. 

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Arnav Gupta shared an image of a cocktail named 'Varathur Overflow' served at Bengaluru Oota Company, drawing attention to the city's notorious Varthur Lake pollution.

Bangalore Oota Company has a drink called “Varthur Overflow” which is a play on the Varthur Lake pollution incident 😂😂

This city literally will make memes to the point of parody cocktails instead of fix itself 🥲 pic.twitter.com/PfmxNIKoLZ

— Arnav Gupta (@championswimmer)

Bangalore Oota Company has a drink called “Varthur Overflow” which is a play on the Varthur Lake pollution incident 😂😂

This city literally will make memes to the point of parody cocktails instead of fix itself 🥲 pic.twitter.com/PfmxNIKoLZ

— Arnav Gupta (@championswimmer) April 7, 2024

">April 7, 2024

The cocktail, composed of tequila, orange brandy, vetiver vodka, pineapple juice, fresh citrus, ripe jackfruit, and salt air, is a satirical take on the dire state of Varthur Lake, known as one of Bengaluru's most polluted water bodies. 

Gupta's caption accompanying the post humorously criticizes the city's penchant for turning even environmental crises into parody.

The ongoing degradation of Varthur Lake stems from sewage water entering it from upstream, notably from Bellandur Lake. This degradation was underscored in October 2023 when an operation to clear the lake resulted in the death of 25,000 fish due to water pollution. Efforts to rejuvenate the lake persist, with the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) recently permitting rainwater inflow.

However, the cocktail's theme has sparked mixed reactions, with some finding it tasteless given the severity of the environmental issue. One commenter likened it to "Bellandur Lake Snowfall," underscoring the gravity of the situation. The incident underscores the ongoing debate between humor and sensitivity in addressing Bengaluru's environmental challenges.