Ulsoor lake to show off Regatta skills of Armymen

Ulsoor lake to show off Regatta skills of Armymen
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The city’s pride -- the Ulsoor Lake -- will wear a busy look on Thursday.

Already, around 500 members from the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) and Centre are busy practising for the big day when battalions will compete with each other for honours in rowing, sailing, kayaking, canoeing and other watermanship games during the Regatta 2004.

Popularly called Sappers, the men from MEG and Centre have been having an annual Regatta for several years now.

Only that this time it is being held after a gap of five years as the lake was drained and desilted by the Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) two years ago. After the recent copious rains, it has regained its past glory and filled up almost to the brim.

On Monday, Col Gurdip Singh, the Superintendent of Training, was overseeing last minute arrangements. Silhouetted against the evening sky, the genial officer was walking up and down the bridges and decks that were constructed by his men.

‘‘There is a lot of tradition and history attached to Regatta,’’ he said and added that MEG and Centre has been a part of the city for centuries. The Sappers have fastened up a floating bridge to connect the island while a few hundred metres away, the Centre’s band was floating on its own stand.

In the background, as the sun dipped fast into the horizon, the men, were cheering for their teams who were participating in the races that were being held.

The activity in this part of the lake where MEG and centre boys are trained, brought traffic to a halt as curious onlookers parked their vehicles and stood at the fence overlooking the sheet of water. Thursday evening promises to be more fun.