Neglect, desecration of holiest of holies

Bengaluru: In 2010, when former chief minister B.S.Yeddyurappa decided to revive a 1000-year-old Someshwara Temple pond in Ulsoor, a rather cornered and quiet Car Street had jumped into life. Old residents were curious to know what the ‘kalyani’ or the pond looked like, and the government made tall promises to the temple management that they could use the ‘holy’ water for cleaning the temple and other similar purposes.

 

Five years down the line, the government that made many claims has exited and the Muzrai Department, which won a legal tussle and took over the pond, has even forgotten that such a pond exists under its purview. What remains, however, is an ugly sight of a pond-turned-backyard garbage pit. For many passersby, adjacent residents and shopkeepers, the pond is conveniently dug up to accommodate trash and garbage.

 

 

The erstwhile government may have envisaged a pure ‘kalyani’ for temple visitors, but what the residents have actually got is nothing they dreamt of. Asks Monica, a resident, “There hasn’t been any sort of development ever since the pond was revived. 

 

“Neither are the boundaries of the pond demarcated, nor do the Muzrai department officials bother to come and check if the pond is still alive. What was the whole purpose of reviving the pond if they didn’t want to maintain it?” Although it is said that the British had closed the ‘kalyan’ over a decade ago, the Yeddyurappa government was determined to dig up the kalyani, which sheltered many poor families, housed around 50 cows, a few shops and even a vet clinic.

 

All the occupants were evicted within a day after the Muzrai department won the case in its favour. Pooja, another resident, vouches that the cowshed was in better condition than this unholy pond. “The temple authorities responded positively to the idea of digging the pond. We haven’t seen them even set foot inside the pond in the last five years. The government doesn’t want it, coming near it is a no-no for temple priests and devotees can’t even get inside the pond as it barricades public entry. Why was nearly Rs 4 crore spent to cause inconvenience to people?” she demands.  

 

The garbage, overflowing pond and dirty water have worried the residents who fear that they may catch some sort of disease due to the lack of maintenance. Former Ulsoor corporator R. Udaykumar seems to think nobody can dare to litter the holy water in the 'kalyani' and claims to monitor the cleanliness of the pond.   “My office is located on the same road as the pond. I haven’t seen any garbage floating there. Who would dare to throw garbage into the temple’s pond? I am sure it is very clean,” he said confidently. 

 

When we offered to prove him wrong, he admitted maintenance was an issue as the pond was not regularly cleaned.  “I ensure that the garbage dumped outside the pond is picked up by pourakarmikas every day. However, since the Muzrai department has locked the gates, we cannot do anything about the garbage inside the pond,” Mr. Udaykumar admitted reluctantly.