Uttarahalli tank falls from grace

Uttarahalli tank falls from grace
Deccan Herald

Uttarahalli tank was once a beautiful place attracting many visitors. Birds from distant places used to nest in the tank’s surroundings for days. Now, this beautiful story has all gone awry. The tank is weed-ridden and the only visitors it now attracts are rag pickers!

The Forest Department had developed the tank a few years ago. All that work went in vain because of poor maintenance. Due to clogged local drains, the sewerage is getting diverted to the tank, polluting the water. The private factories in the area are also letting effluents into the tank. The dual attack has left the tank a cess pool of toxic waste and a source of epidemic diseases.

Eramma, a resident, alleged that hospitals in the vicinity dump waste into the tank at night. She claims to have seen even human body parts being dumped. “It is difficult to walk around the tank because of the stench,” she complained.


Poornaprajna Residents’ Welfare Association President H S Krishnamurthy said, “A beautiful tank has been destroyed by the area hospitals and factories by dumping waste. Encroachment is another problem. Despite several pleas, the district in-charge minister R Ashok and other representatives remain mute spectators.”

Tank Development Authority Chief Executive Officer B K Singh said, “We have constructed walls around all tanks to prevent encroachment. Still, encroachment takes place by breaking the walls. The Authority has no powers to take action against the encroachers and those dumping waste in the tank area.”

Health Minister and in-charge of Bangalore Urban district R Ashok blames the poor maintenance of tanks on shortage of funds.

“The Forest Department and Tank Development Authority are facing a fund crunch. To overcome this problem, the State government has planned to entrust the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and Bangalore Development Authority the responsibility of upkeep of the tanks in their jurisdiction. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has given his nod and soon a notification will be issued,” he added.