Haralukunte Lake set to die unnatural death

Haralukunte Lake set to die unnatural death
Wednesday May 9 2007 11:14 IST

BANGALORE: The mounds of waste material and garbage at Haralukunte Lake is a classic example of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s perfunctory attitude.

The stink that emanates from the polluted water makes you cover your nostrils.

With no one to take care, the lake has become a dump yard for garbage and waste materials.

It is said that a portion of the 17-acre lake has been allotted to garbage contractors for garbage dumping by Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

The BBMP has put up a bund to demarcate between garbage dumping yard and the lake. With the garbage contractors busy dumping the garbage in the allotted portion of the lake, building contractors find it easy to dump waste material in the remaining part of the lake.

“We have made several representations to Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and the BBMP to preserve the lake but in vain. The lake will soon fill up and become a garbage dump yard at this rate,” says Srinivasa Reddy, a resident of Samasandrapalya.

Due to dumping of waste material, even water in open wells and bore-wells has been polluted.

“We have no other option except use this water for washing clothes and utensils. We have to buy potable water,” complains another resident. When asked about the pathetic condition of the lake, N Lakshman, environment officer, KSPCB denied the existence of such lake in his jurisdiction.

When this reporter provided a landmark near the Haralukunte Lake, Lakshman agreed to depute his men to get a first-hand information on the condition of the lake.

If suitable action is not initiated soon, the day is not far away for Haralukunte Lake to join the list of 43 lakes that disappeared from the face of Bangalore.