Bengaluru lakes: House Committee visits waterbodies, hears grievances from affected people

Bengaluru: Encroachments around the city lakes are common, but what is astonishing is the fact that in many cases, government agencies themselves are the encroachers. The revelation came during a day-long inspection of lakes on Tuesday by chairperson of the House Committee on Lakes, Mr K.B. Koliwad, and other members of the committee, including former chief minister Kumaraswamy, former law minister Suresh Kumar, Congress MLAs Sudhakar and N.A. Haris, BJP MLA M. Krishnappa and BDA Commissioner Sham Bhat.

The inspection revealed how lakes across the city have shrunk in size and how they are being polluted with uncontrolled discharge of sewage. The inspection that began at Kempambudhi Lake, went through Yediyur lake, Arakere lake in Bannerghatta, Linganahalli Kere, Sarakki Lake, Dorekere Lake, Chikkallsandra Lake and Ittamadu Lake, before ending at Halagevaderahalli.

Filthy foam from Yemlur lake spills on to the road

The committee members heard the grievances of the residents, who complained that they are being targeted by the Urban Department despite possessing valid land documents. “We will look into the encroachments, verify the documents and come out with a report, and solutions thereafter. We will be sympathetic while dealing with these issues,” Mr Koliwad said.

Linganahalli Kere
This is where the tiny Dollar’s Colony stands now. The committee did not find the lake, but only plush houses and business complexes, each worth several crores. The lake was filled up and the layout formed by the BDA years ago. The layout houses many high-profile personalities, including a retired BDA commissioner, IAS officers and a slew of politicians. The lake has been completely encroached. The area residents pleaded before the committee members that they have all the necessary clearances and documents from the agencies concerned. Close to 54 acres were encroached and till date only 329 sites have been allotted.

At Yediyur Lake encroachment is over 10 acres

Yediyur Lake
At Yediyur Lake, too, major part of the encroachment is by the BBMP, which has built a community hall and a ward office. The encroachment is over 10 acres.

Kempambudhi lake
This once-beautiful lake, which fed many parts of the city, has now turned into a cesspit. Area residents complained that during rains, rainwater mixed with sewage enters the waterbody, polluting it. The authorities made some arrangements to divert sewage from the lake, but they have not worked. Certain portions of the lakebed have been encroached by houses and shops.

Dorekere Lake
The committee members found that the Dorekere Lake is well-protected. But even at this beautiful lake, five acres have been encroached.

Sarakki lake
Sarakki lake is where the Urban Department carried out massive demolitions to clear encroachments, after a high court order. A large number of people, who have lost their homes in the demolition drive, met the committee members and said that they felt cheated by the government agencies as they had been given approval to construct houses.

Sarakki lakebed

The area, identified as lakebed but has been encroached upon, has five temples and nearly 800 houses which have been partially demolished. Other waterbodies, like Chikkallsandra and Ittamadu Lakes, do not even exist anymore. A large number of houses and commercial establishments have come up in the Chikkallsandra Lakebed area, and in some cases, ‘A khatas’ – which are clear land deeds – too have been issued. Encroachments were seen at Halagevaderahalli.

At Arekere Lake, the committee noticed that untreated sewage flowed into the lake. Although the officials claimed that the lake is spread over 34 acres, the committee members had their own suspicion because of extensive encroachment. Mr Koliwad directed the officials to resurvey the lake.