Bengaluru: Environmentalists and people of Malleswaram have renewed their battle to save the Sankey lake from real estate developers. Over 200 people gathered near the lake at 9 am Saturday to protest against the government’s silence on the apartment complex planned by Mantri Developer on 7.2 acres near it.
The Save Sankey Forum, which has gathered over 5,000 signatures against the project, said the protest would continue on Sunday as well. Mr A K Kini, treasurer of the forum, said the government had not done anything to stop the builders although the forum had approached it.
“We have filed an impleading application in a review petition filed by the forest department in the High Court and approached the government on several occasions, but it still hasn’t acted,” he deplored.
Pointing out that Sankey tank was one of the few lung spaces left in the city, Mr Chidanand Kulkarni, president of the Save Sankey Forum said the lake played an important role in recharging the groundwater table and was home to many rare species of trees and birds on its banks. "Even the slender loris has been sighted here,” he said.
A local, Mr Rajendra K said he often came to the lake with his family for a walk and if the building project was permitted, it would steal the moments of quiet they enjoyed here. “There is an uncanny calmness here. We hope that is not disturbed in the name of development,” he added.
Said Mr Ravi Kumar, director of BPAC, “We have already seen what has happened to the many lakes in the city in the name of development. A survey says for every human being we need 17 trees. But in Bengaluru it is the other way round. We have one tree for every 17 human beings. We cannot let things slide further."
Kundanahalli lake to get sewage treatment plant
In a big relief to the residents of Whitefield, a sewage treatment plant will be installed at the Kundalahalli Lake on Monday, which will play a
crucial role in reducing the froth emanating in Varthur Lake.
The Kundalahalli Lake is a feeder to the Varthur Lake and treating sewage at the smaller lakes will ensure that some of the issues in Varthur Lake are addressed, said members of Whitefield Rising.
Zibi Jamal, a member of Whitefield Rising, said, “For long, the residents have demanded sustainable methods to end the froth menace and setting up an STP is a first step in the right direction. The STP has the capacity to treat 780 litres of raw sewage everyday. The recycled water will then be released to the lake in order to replenish it as well as rejuvenate it continuously. This is the first step towards rejuvenating the lake in a natural way.”
The STP being installed on a public-private partnership basis with big players like Qualcomm extending its support to rejuvenate the lake.
