When concrete eats into lakes

When concrete eats into lakes
Deccan Herald

The overflowing of lakes is attributed to encroachments, and, to the drains which block the outlet system when the lake is filled to capacity.

Overflowing lakes, flooded houses and inundated layouts have been hogging prime news space in Bangalore as the rain gods were bent on showering an unprecedented bounty this season.

For officials whose area of concern are the affected water bodies like Puttenahalli Lake, Doddabegur Lake, Jarganahalli Lake, Nagawara Lake, Doddenakundi Lake, the situation is a stark exposure of unplanned development. The encroachment of lakes is not limited to lake beds and kaluves (outflow drains) alone, the lakes themselves are being eaten into, they note.

A lake lets out water through its outlet drains only when it is filled to capacity, therefore there is nothing unusual in the oft-quoted overflows. If at all, it only gives a measure of the encroachments, the officials noted.

In the specific case of the JP Nagar Puttenahalli Lake, the Lake Development Authority, (LDA), has now proposed a kilometre-long underground pipeline of 6 mm diameter so that the rajakaluve that has been blocked by a road may be re-linked.

According to LDA’s assessment, the Puttenahalli Lake presently measures five acres less than its original measure of 13.25 acres. Elsewhere, the three kilometre-long Rajakaluve from Jarganahalli Lake to Madivala Lake, which should actually measure 20 ft in width, presently measures only 3 ft.

The LDA which is an umbrella body has no direct power to check the encroachments; it is the Revenue department which sanctions the building and layout plans. LDA Chief Executive Officer, B K Singh said that many letters were written to the Bommanahalli CMC authorities drawing its attention to the encroachment activities (in Puttenahalli Lake, Doddabegur Lake etc), but the local body did not heed.

Most of the affected layouts are new and since the rains had been sparse in the last few years, the residents have only come face-to-face with the situation this season, it was noted.

It is learnt that the Urban Development Department has scheduled a meeting this week to take stock of the overflowing lakes in particular.

A list of some of the lakes Bangalore has already lost and their new avatars.

1. Marenahalli Lake: Marenahalli
2. Sarakki Agrahara Lake/Doresanipalya: JP Nagar IV Phase
3. Chinnagara Lake: Ejipura
4. Challaghatta Lake: Karnataka Golf Club
5. Domlur Lake: Domlur II Stage
6. Siddapura Lake: Siddapura/Jayanagar I Block
7. Geddalahalli Lake: RMV II Stage, I Block
8. Nagashettihalli Lake: RMV II Stage, II Block
9. Kadirenahalli Lake: Banashankari II Stage
10. Tyagarajanagar Lake: Tyagarajanagar
11. Tumkur Lake: Mysore Lamps
12. Ramshetty Palyakere: Milk Colony (Playground)
13. Agasana Lake: Gayathri Devi Park
14. Ketamaranahalli Lake: Rajajinagar (Mahalakshmipuram)
15. Gangashetty Lake: Minerva Mills and open ground
16. Jakraya Lake: Krishna Floor Mills
17. Dharmambudhi Lake: Kempegowda Bus Terminal
18. Agarahar Hosakere: Cheluvadipalya
19. Kalasipalya Lake: Kalasipalya
20. Sampangi Lake: Kanteerava Stadium
21. Shule Tank: Ashoknagar, Football Stadium
22. Akkitimma Tank: Sai Hockey Stadium
23. Sunkal Tank: KSRTC Regional Workshop
24. Koramangala Lake: National Diary Research Institute
25. Kodihalli Lake: New Tippasandra/ Government buildings
26. Hoskere: Residential Railway Stockyard
27. Sonnenehalli Lake: Austin Town (RES Colony)
28. Gokula Tank: Mathikere
29. Vidyaranyapura Lake: Vidyaranyapura/ Jalahalli East
30. Kadugondanahalli Lake: Kadugondanahalli
31. Hennur Lake: Nagavara (HBR Layout)
32. Banaswadi Lake: Subbayapalya Extension
33. Chennasandra Lake: Pulla Reddy Layout
34. Vijinapura Lake (Kotturu): Rajarajeshwari Layout
35. Murgeshpalya Lake: Murgeshpalya
36. Parangipalya Lake: HSR Layout
37. Mestriplaya Lake: Mestriplaya (Open ground)
38. Timberyard Lake: Timberyard Layout
39. Gangodanhalli Lake: Gangodanhalli
40. Vijayanagar Chord Road Lake: Vijayanagar
41. Oddarapalaya Lake: Rajajinagar (Industrial Area)
42. Saneguruvanahalli Lake: Shivanahalli (playground)
43. Kurubarahalli Lake: Basaveshwaranagar