Battle over Byrasandra tank continues

Battle over Byrasandra tank continues
Monday June 11 2007 10:37 IST

BANGALORE: The water feature that once offered the visitor a panoramic view, today lies in a pathetic state.

The Byrasandra Tank, occupying a sprawl of 15- acre, has been reduced to a godforsaken dump yard.

It is worth sparing a thought for the condition of the tank, especially in the backdrop of the BBMP declaring June as ‘Environment Month’.

A resident of the Reserve Bank Colony Anant Ramu said, “The tank bed has become a dump yard and a public lavatory. Lately, it receives mountains of slaughter waste too. The horrible stench pervades a large area around the tank. It has made our life miserable.”

“The tank has become a danger zone as it is home to pests, reptiles and stray dogs.” added Ramu. The 1985 Laxman Rao Committee Report, which looked into the preservation and conservation of tank beds in the City, had recommended the conservation of the Byrasandra tank bed.

The Government had passed an order in 1986 asking the Forest Department to restore the tank bed and to develop its foreshore into a tree park. Though the Department did make a half-hearted attempt to convert the tank into a park, as things stand today, there is neither a tank nor a park at the trouble spot.

Later, the Government’s attempt to rehabilitate slum dwellers in the area was fiercely contested by the nearby residents. A spate of litigation followed.

In 2005, the land was set to be auctioned. About 15 acres, worth more than Rs 70 crore, was auctioned. However, in March 2005, the High Court stayed further proceedings on a PIL.

It has been a long-running battle for the residents of the Reserve Bank Housing Colony adjoining the tank bed against the land grabbers. “Only a strong political will can help conserve the tank bed,” observed Venkata Subba Rao, a resident of the Colony.

Another resident and a retired staff of the Reserve Bank, Gundu Rao said, “The BBMP took-up developmental works at a cost of 1.20 crore in 2004. But there is no sign of any developmental work in the area.”

BBMP administrator Dileep Rao told this website's newspaper, “I have inspected the tank area. It’s in a pathetic state. I have called a meeting with the chief engineer and we will soon look into the development of the tank area.”