Bengaluru: Members of the Vibhutipura Kere Abhivridhi Mattu Samrakshane Samiti (VIKAS) have been organising repeated campaigns over the last three years to raise awareness on the dying water body, but officials seem to be in a deep slumber and have ignored the pleas to develop the lake.
VIKAS on Sunday morning organised a 5-km Run4Lake to create awareness on the dying lake and to involve people in shaking officers into action.
Though the residents of LBS Nagar, Vignan Nagar, Vibhutipura, Basavanagar, Annasandra Palya and other areas on the periphery of Vibhutipura Lake have been protesting for the diversion of sewage and fencing of the outer and inner parts, it has fallen on deaf ears.
“There is no safety for walkers and residents around the lake. Dumping of debris and garbage is going on unabated. Trees planted by the residents around the lake are also being damaged,” VIKAS members said.
Area corporator S.G. Nagaraj said that deweeding will begin before the onset of monsoon. Lake conservationist S. Vishwanath emphasised the need to push the authorities to set up decentralised sewage treatment plants to treat sewage in the city. Resident initiatives, like VIKAS, are key to save dying lakes in the city, he said.
“The biggest problem is untreated sewage flowing into the lakes. Officials have visited the lake and promised us to find a solution, but nothing has materialised,” said Mr Mallikarjun Hanji, a resident of Vibhutipura.
