Lakes lose out to realty

Lakes lose out to realty
BY CHANDRASHEKAR G.
BENGALURU







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Two lakes Kasa vanahallikere and Kaikondanahalli located in forests at Haralur, off Sarjapur, are slowly vanishing thanks to real estate activity around them.

Although the area surrounding the lakes is categorised as Valley Zone in the master plan 2015, indiscriminate construction is being allowed here encroaching on the catchment area, allege people living in the neighbourhood.

Just a few years ago, the lakes and forest were a haven for migratory and other bird species and were enjoyed by people of Shubh Enclave layout at Haralur, but today they are turning into a concrete jungle.

Shubh Enclave residents are up in arms against construction of multi-storey buildings in the area and have knocked on the doors of the revenue department to protest against them.

Association president Rajeev Manikoth alleges, “Building plans for highrise structures are being sanctioned by flouting norms like width of the roads, percentage of open space, supply of water and other basic amenities.” “High rises have mushroomed on Sarjapur Road, a low groundwater density zone. These developments are worrying us,” says Mr V Vasudevan, a resident.

“When the BWSSB is not in a position to supply water, how can the BDA and BMRDA sanction skyscrapers?” asks Mr Neligar, another resident.

Encroachment of the lakes has reduced the groundwater table in the area, says Mr Manikoth.

“A huge compound wall has been built between Kasavanahallikere and Kaikondanahalli lake, preventing water entering it from the catchment area. Kasavanahallikere is also called Melinakere (upper lake) because of its gradation. This is resulting in flooding of the entire area,” he regrets. Flooding has been providing a breeding ground for mosquitoes and leading to outbreak of diseases, the residents complain. Repeated complaints to the gram panchayat and the tahsildar have not solved the problem, they say.

When contacted, revenue officials assured the area will be surveyed with the help of a map and revenue records and any encroachment, if found, will be removed.