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Kasavanahalli Lake fire chars ten trees

Burning cigarette butt thrown may have triggered blaze.

Bengaluru: Kasavanahalli Lake in East Bengaluru caught fire on Monday and charred over 10 trees and 15 saplings. Though the reason of the fire is not known there is an apprehension of someone leaving a lit cigarette butt on the dry leaves.

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In one corner of the lake, located off Haralur Road, there is an accumulation of dry leaves and bush and even a spark could lead to a fire.

Sreenivas L., an activist said that had the fire not been doused in time, it would have spread to the entire lake.

“There has to be more security along the corner of the lake which are susceptible to such incidents," he added.

“The BWSSB has dug up the side of the lake and though the board has said that 90% of the work is completed, there is no sign of it getting over soon," he said. Sreenivas has planned to meet the experts to chalk out the plan on improving the lake.

“We have eucalyptus trees, whose water intake is more. So we may plan on planting different species. Every year the lake dries up during summer. I am told this is a natural phenomena, but this year it is the worst," he added.

The activist said that he has been asking the BBMP Storm Water Drain department (SWD) to complete its work, but to no avail.

The lake falls under Bellandur ward of BBMP. Residents have been fighting to salvage the wetlands adjoining this lake and Kaikondrahalli Lake, which lies further downstream.

They allege that rajakaluves connecting the two lakes have been encroached upon and Kaikondrahalli Lake's NGT buffer zone has been violated with buildings constructed right next to the fence.

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