Vanishing Hosakerehalli lake to be restored?

BANGALORE: There once a time when the city could boast of over 150 lakes. Today the number has reduced drastically.Some have been encroached upon, while others have been filled up to make land space for the growing population in the city.The fate of those that remain seems to be uncertain. Neglect and the casual attitude of the public and the authorities have reduced most of the remaining lakes into garbage and sewage dump yards. Hosakerehalli lake, located in Banashankari 3rd stage is an example of the sad plight of lakes in the city.The lake that has a depth of 30 feet, spreads across 59.25 acres. Nandi Infrastructure Corridor Enterprises (NICE) owns 4.37 acres of the 59.25 acres. To begin with the lake was maintained by the Central Forest Department.However, despite being under their charge, the lake soon reached a state of complete neglect.Once, the water here was used for a number of purposes. It was a source of both drinking water and water for irrigation purposes.Unfortunately now water from the sewage drains from the residential areas have been redirected into the lake giving the term ‘fresh water lake’ a new meaning.Chandru, a shop owner in the area, said, “It should be called a pool of drain water instead of a lake.” The top layer of the lake is covered with weeds and filth.Residents say that this day wouldn’t have come had the forest officials been more responsible.After the Central Forest Department’s role as the caretaker, it was the turn of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).They took care of the lake for a few months. But now it is under the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) who have taken up initiatives to survey and maintain the lake. “The Lake Development Authority told the BBMP to transfer the lake to the BDA,” said Sathish, chief engineer, BBMP.Drainage water comes from more than three to four areas and flows into the lake.Some residents also use the land as a place to dump garbage.The public has lodged several complaints to the corporator with no action from him.Siddhgangamma, a resident said, “The stench exuding from the garbage has become unbearable. It is high time that solutions are implemented for our problems.” Ramegowda, another resident, added that it is time that the pollution caused due to the garbage disposed is considered by the authorities.The local corporator of the area, H Narayan, said that steps will be taken soon to rectify the situation. “The BDA has earmarked Rs 33 crore for the project. Home minister R Ashok has given stern instructions that the lake be restored as soon as possible. Surveying, sketching and fencing will be the first few steps we plan to take.” The BDA engineer for the locality is S V Sanjeev. He said, “The tender was approved last month. The work on 1st phase tendering, plantation around the boundary of the lake, removal of weeds, fencing and planting of pigmentation plants in order to beautify the lake, will begin soon. We are also planning to construct a park and a walking track.”