Another city lake on ‘road’ to destruction

Another city lake on ‘road’ to destruction
SHILPA P.
DC | BENGALURU


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Bengaluru maysoon lose another lake to ‘development’. A portion of the Yellammappa Shetty Lake, a sprawling water body over 50-60 acres situated along Old Madras Road, is reportedly being encroached upon by the National Highway authorities for a multilane highway.
Eco Watch, an NGO, has raised its voice against the reported encroachment and is trying to prevent officials from dumping debris and stones into the lake which is about 2 km from KR Puram bridge in Virgonagar, Avalahalli Panchayat.

Suresh Heblikar, founder, Eco Watch, says, “The lake has already been partially encroached by the people of Avalhalli on the left, and it has also been partially covered with hyacinth (weeds) due to the untreated sewerage water entering the lake from nearby areas including KR Puram, Avalahalli, Virgonagar and other areas.

Now, National Highway authorities have filled at least 120 mt of the lake”.

He said: “We have also found that the National Highway authorities haven’t sought any information from the Lake Development Authority and the LDA has not questioned this”.

The lake has geese, ducks and the Grey heron resting here and farmers of Avalahalli depend on this lake for growing vegetables in the 100-200 acres of land here.

According to Mr Heblikar, “The mushrooming of concrete structures, asphalting of hundreds of sq. km. of open space, rich soil and the consequent vanishing of green cover has led to the creation of heat islands and unusual rise in temperature.

This has also drastically changed the micro-climatic conditions of Bengaluru”.

“We seem to be contributing to the callous dream of converting the once beautiful Garden City into a Silicon Mammoth,” he added.

When Deccan Chronicle contacted LDA officials, they said the National Highway Authorities have not sought any permission from them to construct or expand the road towards the lake.