Hebbal lake: Calm ruined by missing, useless life-jackets

Hebbal lake: Calm ruined by missing, useless life-jackets
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: With summer fast approaching and mercury levels touching an all-time high, Bangaloreans are looking for getaways to beat the heat. Few know that Hebbal Lake is an ideal place for a quiet paddle on placid waters.

For a small price you can spend the evening at the lake’s beautiful park and go for a boat ride. Spread over 150 hectares and off the Outer Ring Road, the lake, maintained by the Forest Department, is close to the Hebbal flyover.

Different species of birds like kingfisher, grey heron, egret, drongo, cormorants, dab chick and clap wing add to the experience, where hundreds of residents arrive everyday to take a break from their routine. The crowd is more on weekends.

But there is an element of risk involved. People who don’t know swimming must board the boat at their own peril. The department that operates ten pedal boats has no life-jackets. Life-jackets are a must since visitors, many of whom do not even know swimming, pedal these boats over deep waters. Life-guards are also not there for rescue and provide first-aid.

‘‘Rats have destroyed all the life-jackets kept inside a store room and so we can’t provide them to people.’’ This is what a worker at the boating facility at the lake had to say.

‘‘So far, no mishap has occurred,’’ he added.

Sankey Tank, which also has a similar boating facility provides life-jackets to all those venturing into the tank.

Many parts of the park are also littered with plastic bottles and paper thrown by visitors. The department plans to take up weeding of the lake and is also expected to take measures to maintain cleanliness.