Bengaluru: A lakefront, now an eyesore

Bengaluru: “Owning a house overlooking a beautiful lake in South Bengaluru had always been our dream. So it was a dream come true when we built a house after a great struggle by investing our lifetime’s earning and taking loans from financial institutions,” said a middle- aged Janaki Naganna, resident of Sarakki.

But the happiness of owning a house overlooking the lake did not last. It soon became evident that the lake was looked upon  with total contempt by everyone, as if the lake was meant only to discharge sewage and to dump garbage. The lake, which was once a major landmark and added beauty to the area, has become an eyesore. Thanks to the apathy of the BBMP and lake authorities who are least bothered about the lake, she said.

Today, the lake has become an eyesore with mounds of garbage strewn all around and stray dogs and cows feeding on them all over the place. The lake has become one huge stinking pit and breeding ground for mosquitoes. Some of the residents have been planning to sell their property and move away, if they get a proper price for their houses.

Animal carcasses are dumped at the lakeshore along with the garbage. Apart from making the place unhygienic, the residents’ main fear is the outbreak of epidemics. Even before the summer has set in, the mosquito menace has reached the peak, said Mrs. Naganna.

Another resident, Y. Umadevi says,  recently the BBMP and urban authorities jointly took up a lake encroachment demolition drive and bulldozed unauthorized structures, giving hope that the lake will get a fresh lease of life along with the residents who live on the outskirts.  But the hopes of citizens flattened with authorities turning a total blind eye.

With the garbage crisis rising every day, the lake bed became an easy dumping ground for contractors and officials. The repeated complaints and requests to clear the garbage on the lake bed have fallen on deaf ears but the garbage pile is getting bigger by the day. Although with efforts from Save Sarakki Lake Trust, a mini sewage treatment plant has been put up, it is not sufficient to treat the inflow of sewage, she said.

We feel embarrassed to face the public: BM Shobha Muniram, Jaraganahalli ward corporator

Why is BBMP allowing indiscriminate dumping of garbage at the Sarakki lake?
Even I have noticed that huge piles of garbage have been dumped near the lake. Garbage is being dumped from outside the ward and other areas without our knowledge. Poultry and meat waste is being dumped near the lake attracting stray dogs. Garbage generated in Jaraganahalli ward is being effectively cleared and not allowed to dump near lakes.

Does this illegal dumping mean that the city’s waste processing units are not functioning effectively?
Going by the garbage dumped at several parts of the city, including near lakes, give an impression that the waste processing plants are not functioning effectively. Due to the indiscriminate dumping of waste ground water is getting contaminated and causing unhygienic atmosphere. Children have been falling sick very often. As a result, we are not able to face the public in that part of the ward.   

Will you penalise contractors dumping the waste? How do you plan to put an end to this menace?
We have formed a team comprising party workers to keep a vigil on unauthorized waste dumping. Since they are dumped during the night, it is difficult for us to catch hold of them. We plan to install CCTV cameras. Unfortunately, the Congress ruled government is not providing adequate funds to the corporators representing BJP. This is affecting development works too.

Will you demand the BDA to develop the lake or to transfer the lake to the BBMP jurisdiction for rejuvenation?
We have been demanding the BDA to secure and rejuvenate the lake area and prevent illegal garbage dumping. We also plan to stage a dharna after consulting with our party MLA.

We are not interested in getting the lake transferred from one authority to another, but we demand for development of the lake.