Bengaluru: Last year, when the BDA started the rejuvenation works of Vibhutipura Lake near HAL Airport, the residents there had many reasons to smile as their efforts to revive the lake were finally paying off. The forum which fought for the lake development, Vibhutipura Kere Abhivruddhi Mattu Samrakshane Samiti (Vikas), had heaved a sigh of relief knowing that their struggles would soon come to an end.
However, their dreams of having a clean lake shattered within few weeks as the BDA did not complete the rejuvenation works. Although the BDA completed the works of the formation of islands, bunds, walking tracks, rainwater channels and de-weeding, it did not fence the lake completely. Now, the lake is merely a sewage pit with the nearby slums directly letting their sewage into the lake. “Monsoon is a nightmare,” tells a member of Vikas, wishing to speak on the behalf of the group.
“The last few weeks have been difficult as the drains overflow on rainy days and carry plastic, garbage and other wastes into the lake. The lake, which contains sewage mixed with rain water, emanates unbearable stench. Some people dump construction debris in the lake, worsening the situation,” says the member.
Another increasing challenge to the activists has been the containing of encroachment. According to Vikas, the lake which was originally 49.45 acres has now shrunk to less than 45 acres as a result of the encroachment. “When the BDA took up rejuvenation work, it desilted the lake and started the inner fencing work at a cost of Rs 2.75 crores. However, miscreants have damaged the inner fencing and some apartments that have cropped up in the past one year have partially encroached the lake area,” the member adds.
Though the BDA started the rejuvenation works, it abruptly stopped it on the pretext that it could not complete the fencing until the boundary of the lake was demarcated. The Tahshildar, however, maintains that the survey of the lake area is complete and that the BDA could fence the lake. With a few locals claiming to own a share of property in the vicinity of the lake, the matter is now in court, rue the members.
“The blame game and the ducking out of officials from their responsibilities have led to the lake reaching a dying condition. If it’s not fenced now, there may be no lake left at all some day. With increasing criminal activities in the lake area after dark, we hope the officials concerned will take action,” the member urged.
