Neglected Basapura lake is dying in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: “What do you do when the fence eats the crop?” remarked Vinay, a lake activist, as he looks at the pitiful condition of the Basapura Lake in Basapura village near Begur.

For years now, the Basapura Lake has been neglected because of the apathy of officials. While some of the prominent lakes in the city like Kaikondrahalli Lake, Varthur Lake and Bellandur Lake have managed to catch the government’s eye when they were on the verge of dying a slow death, activists feel the imminent demise of Basapura Lake is a plotted murder.

“First, the BBMP gives permission to set up a garbage segregation plant right next to the lake. The garbage is not even segregated scientifically and the leftover plastic is dumped in the lake. Eventually, the lake becomes contaminated and gets fully choked. Can you imagine the apathy of the officials?” said an upset Vinay.

While the callous BBMP has set up garbage segregation plants on park premises and rajakaluves earlier, it did not anticipate that the choked Basapura Lake would overflow on to the road.

“The lake water that is supposed to reach the Begur Lake is overflowing on to the road and the plastic waste dump is blocking the channel between Basapura and Begur lakes. The water that can replenish our lakes is being wasted on the road. Despite this, those trying to reach the officials for three days, have met with no response,” said Pramod, another activist.

A number of like-minded citizens who are fighting to save the lake have formed the ‘Save Basapura Lake’ community on Facebook and are relentlessly trying to bring it to the notice of BBMP officials. Till now, they haven’t succeeded, much to their dismay. 

“There are many grave mistakes committed by the BBMP and these are killing the lake. It is unbelievable but true that the BBMP has constructed a road right in the middle of the lake. The road is constructed to provide access to an old graveyard. Also, there is no buffer zone. As a result, the lake overflows and there’s flooding during the rainy season,” the members of the community said.

Cleaning work to begin soon: M. Krishnappa, MLA

Why has the Basapura Lake not been rejuvenated?
For long, we have been hearing complaints about the deteriorating conditions of the lake. After much delay a tender has been awarded to clean the fence of the lake and weeds will be removed during the process. It will start within a day or two.

Why did the BBMP set up a garbage processing plant in the lake vicinity?
Well, garbage has to be segregated somewhere and we are all aware of the lack of space to treat garbage in Bengaluru. The plant area belongs to state government and hence the processing plant was set up here.

There are several complaints on lake encroachment. What action will be taken to remove them?
I have written to the tahasildar to take action against encroachments since he has the powers to act against encroachers. I have no role in taking action against illegal encroachments.