Residents stand up against complex near Sankey tank

Bengaluru: Close to 1000 people gathered at the Sankey Tank on Saturday early morning to protest against the proposed apartment complex on 7.2 acres of land by Mantri Developers near the lake. The Save Sankey Forum which spearheaded the protest said they are looking all options to stop the said project; in fact, they have filed an impleading application in a review petition filed by the forest department at the High Court. Interestingly, the forum has started a poster campaign at the tank which have already garnered over 5,000 signatures.

Chidanand Kulkarni, president of Save Sankey Forum says, “If this complex is allowed to come up here the entire ecology will be disturbed. Our biggest fear is about losing the 1,259 trees that are there on the land.

The rain water that falls into the trees seeps into the water into the lake and this is how the water table has been able to be recharged. Most importantly, there a many rare species of trees, birds that we find here. In fact, slender loris has been sighted here. This is one of the last few lung spaces in our city and we cannot let anyone spoil it.” Voicing a similar opinion A K Kini, treasurer of Sankey tank Walkers Association says, “There are so many private borewells in this area and if this massive apartment is allowed, all borewells will go dry in a matter of few days. The clean air that we breathe in and around the lake will no more prevail. We are about to put public periphery in risk with this project.”

Rajendra K, a visitor says, “We come here for walk most of the days with our children. There are many birds nesting here. If such a private project is permitted here, our children will lose their childhood, these moments. There is an uncanny calmness here. We hope that is not disturbed in the name of development.”

Freedom fighter Doreswamy was present at the protest along with Malleswaram MLA Ashwath Narayan, Rajajinagar former MLA Narendra Babu. Kini adds, “Our local MLA has assured us that he will convince government to take back the land so that the lake remains as is.”

Experts voice unanimously that such projects near lakes need to be stopped. Ravi Kumar, Director of BPAC, says, “We have already seen what has happened to the many lakes in the city. In the name of development, we have destroyed a lot of lung space. A survey says for every human being we need 17 trees. While in Bengaluru, it is the other way round, for 17 human beings we have one tree. And these 1,259 trees consists primary position in the last BBMP survey of trees.”