Lakes on outskirts tell a sorry tale

Lakes on outskirts tell a sorry tale
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Sewer lines, roads, chunks of garbage, human excreta, carcasses, slums and even apartments. There is everything except potable water in city lakes. In water-starved Bangalore, lakes on its outskirts are not just neglected but turn prime property for land sharks.

And almost every Government agency has a role to play in the deterioration of these water resources.

On Friday, the Byrasandra Lake, covering 15 acres was auctioned to a private bidder even as the Bangalore City Corporation watched helplessly. There is no doubt an apartment will come up here. ‘‘It was shocking to see our property being auctioned. We will fight it in court,’’ said BCC Commissioner K. Jyothiramalingam.

The Lake Development Authority (LDA), in charge of rejuvenation and maintenance of lakes, finds itself in a serious fix. ‘‘It is lack of political will and red tape that have lead to deterioration,’’ said LDA executive engineer N. Rajendra Prasad.

The authority, he said, had recently identified Yelahanka and Gandhinagar (in Kengeri), as potential water sources. ‘‘These lakes were earlier neglected. During the last monsoon, we saw the area filled with water. It was even decided that it would be declared a tourist attraction,’’ he added.

But even these lakes have serious problems. Worst are the sewer lines built by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) close to these lakes. ‘‘These pipes leak and the sewage mixes with lake water,’’ Prasad said.

The BWSSB Chairman S.K. Pattanayak, said, ‘‘Many sewer lines were laid near lakes in the past. We don’t do it any more. We will remove the sewer lines from the lakes but it will take time.’’

Meanwhile, the BDA has identified fringes on this lake for roads. BDA Public Relations Officer Katyayini said, ‘‘We make our plans only after we take adequate care that they do not to affect lakes.’’

Worse, the Karnataka Housing Board has identified the Yelahanka lake area for building houses and apartments. ‘‘Many big builders are eyeing the Yelahanka lake region. Stopping them later will be a problem. I have sent proposals to the State Government to target these lakes as potential groundwater recharge tanks,’’ he said, hoping that his plans would come true.