BDA involves residents in campaign to clean lake

BDA involves residents in campaign to clean lake

Staff Reporter

It was really a symbolic act as part of World Environment Day

BANGALORE: There was no de-weeding of the lake; no clearing huge mounds of garbage yet it was a "Save the Lake" campaign carried out by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) as a part of World Environment Day celebrations.

The Bangalore Development Authority on Monday made the children and the residents get involved in cleaning of Bennagahanalli Lake, off Old Madras Road. Around 150 scouts and guides and the residents of areas, including those from Pai Layout, were made to remove plastic bags and other waste strewn on the lake bund.

As the cleaning process began, what stood in contrast were the weeds that had filled nearly one-third of the lake. "We will take an action to clear it later," said M.K. Shankaralinge Gowda, Commissioner of BDA, the agency responsible for the lake maintenance.

He told reporters that the event's objective was to generate awareness among people and involve them in the protection of lakes.

The cleaning process began around 9.30 a.m. after the participants were served with a sumptuous breakfast. The participants moved along the walkway and collected waste materials, including plastic bottles, torn gunny bags and dry twigs.

While the cleaning process was on, a resident of Pai Layout pointed towards a heap of garbage piled on one side of the lake bund. "The BDA should take action to remove the garbage dumped by the residents of the slum staying near the bund. No vehicle comes here to pick it up," she said.

To this, the Mr. Shankarlinge Gowda turned to the BDA staff and wondered why there were no containers provided for the slum residents to dump the garbage. No action was taken to remove the heap of garbage.

Anupama Reddy, president of the Pai Layout Residents Welfare Association, said absence of lavatories had forced the slum residents to use the lake bund. A part of the walkway was stinking and caused inconvenience for morning walkers. She asked the BDA to install barbed wire fencing around the lake bund.