Park back from the dumps

Park back from the dumps
Utkarsh, a combined initiative of the residents of LBS Nagar, has acquired two acres of Vibhutipura Lake area from the forest department and is giving it a new lease of life
SHASHWATHI BHANUKUMAR


Vibhutipura Lake in Lal Bahadur Shastri (LBS) Nagar was an example of how organised encroachment activity could cause the death of a beautiful water body. Ten acres of lake land, owned by the forest department, was continuously being filled with debris from nearby construction sites. That was then.
Things are all set to change now as residents of the area have acquired two acres of the land from the forest department and are building a small park there.
FROM DEBRIS TO GREENERY
“Out of the 10 acres, we managed to acquire two acres from the forest department and they have been very co-operative,” explains Shubha Priya, a resident. Shubha and other residents of the area are part of Utkarsh, a combined initiative of the residents.
LBS Nagar has 14 apartment complexes comprising 800 flats besides several independent houses. Shubha says, “This place was unrecognisable a few months ago as it was completely covered with bushes. Many of us did not even know that there was a lake till we cut through the bushes. This lake was once used for fishing.” The park today is home to a number of migratory birds like cranes.
It was in early December last year that the residents got the permission to convert the land into a park. Work has been going on at full speed. “We finished clearing the debris in one week and the sand is being laid now. It will take another six months before we can open the park,” says Sujata Tibrewala, another member involved in the project.
The park will have a pathway for people to walk on and a small children’s play area.
3 YEARS OF HARD WORK
The setting up of the park has been completely funded by residents of the area. “Around 1,000 houses contributed money for the park. We have managed to collect Rs 70,000 totally,” says Shubha. “Nandish Reddy, MLA of the area, has agreed to fund the fencing work,” adds Sujata. The sewage treatment plant in the area will be the main source of water and saplings have already been planted. The way the park is turning out is really impressive. We want this effort to continue in all our other initiatives. It has been three years of hard work,” says Padmaja Ramamurthy, a visibly proud resident.
This is yet another reason why the residents chose to hold their Republic Day celebrations in the newlyformed park.
NEW INITIATIVES
A future initiative of the residents is to rejuvenate the lake. “Nandish Reddy has promised residents that he would provide funds up to Rs 1.5 crore for cleaning the lake,” says Sujata. Garbage pick-up from LBS Nagar (private and BBMP); temporary road repair work through active follow-up with BBMP; getting a grant for tarred roads from the MLA; an anti-plastic campaign and increasing awareness about garbage management techniques such as composting are the other initiatives Utkarsh will be involved in.