Bengaluru: The lake in Maistripalya has become a drainage pit for the slum in the vicinity and the surrounding areas.
The authorities have placed a drainage pipe right in the lake on one side and on the other side there is a small channel through which sewage water has been constantly flowing into the lake. Interestingly, the lake does not even have a name yet; but the slum dwellers call it Maistripalya Lake.
Rashid, a resident, says, “The authorities had started some work in the lake. But the work has been going on at a snail’s pace for the past two years. We have not seen any development as far as this lake is concerned.”
Area corporator BN Kokila told Deccan Chronicle, “Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has taken up the work of fencing and preserving the lake and also creating a park near the lake.” She denies reports of sewage water being dumped into the lake.
Currently, there is very little water in the lake. Its surface is dirty and littered with mosquitoes. Kamal C, a resident complains, “Our children play right near the lake. Every now and then they fall sick. Since there is no other open space around, we cannot stop them from going near the lake.”
More than Rs 200 crore has been spent on the development of Bangalore’s water bodies in the last six years, with little to show for it. A CAG report released in 2011 has revealed that more than half the sewage generated in Bangalore is directly discharged into stormwater drains and lakes, contaminating water bodies and ground water.
The existing sewage network covers only 40% of Bangalore Metropolitan Region (BMR) and the sewage treatment plants receive only 47% of the sewage generated. The remaining 53 per cent is discharged directly into stormwater drains and lakes.
