Bengaluru: United Bengaluru, a umbrella organisation which took oath to 'reclaim and protect Bengaluru lakes', visited Horamavu-Agara, Horamavu-Jayanthi Nagar (Horamavu small lake) and Challakere lakes in the Yellamallappa Chetty Lake Series located in Mahadevapura Zone on Saturday to assess the extent of deterioration.
The activists want to motivate citizens to use the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, calling for a fine of Rs 5 lakh against illegal dumping in lakes throughout Bengaluru, to file complaints.
They also visited Hennur police station and lodged a police complaint against illegal dumping of garbage into these lakes. On behalf of United Bengaluru, Ms Swarit Agarwal, member of Save Horamavu Lake lodged the complaint.
Freedom fighter H.S. Doreswamy, who visited the lake along with others, threatened to sit for a dharna if no progress is seen in developing the lake within a month.
He pointed out that 'United Bengaluru' is not against any political party, MP or MLA is working for the benefit of the citizens. He urged citizens to come forward and lodge complaint against lake violators.
Founder trustee of Namma Bengaluru Foundation and Rajya Sabha member Rajeev Chandrasekhar expressed his happiness over the increasing citizens participations to reclaim lakes.
He said, "Citizens groups are coming together to protect and reclaim our city from vested interests and unitedly working to making government officials and elected representatives accountable.”
He urged the citizens to report against those violating the law and those not enforcing it.
The team assessed the lakes and also shared the details and contact numbers of the custodians of lake right from elected representative to government officials. They urged the citizens to use the information and contact relevant people in the government and file complaints.
Experts also urged citizens to use #UnitedBengaluru as a platform to end encroachment and dumping of lakes and send copy of citizen's complaints on lake violations to unitedbengaluru17@gmail.com.
