kasa-kere

Bangalore

BDA

garbage

.

Bengaluru

We have informed the BDA engineers several times about the bad condition of the lake but nothing has been done. We have also written a few letters to them but they are yet to come here and inspect it. — Ramesh N, President, Visvesvaraya Residents’ Association

Kengeri’s Hosakere lake is now(kasa=garbage; kere=lake) and an urgent wake-up call for other water bodies in cityA web mapping app may tell you there’s a lake here but when it comes to Hosa­kere lake, your eyes are going to see a floating landfill. The lake near Visvesvaraya Layout is not only full of sewage water but also full of waste.The residents say that they have been complaining to the authorities to clean the lake for the last four years but nothing has been done till date. TheDevelopment Authority () has spent lakhs of rupees to construct three mini check dams to preventflowing into the lake along with rainwater. The lake also had a walking path around it but the strong stench of garbage and sewage water is keeping walkers away.Says Priya Uttam, “We have no problems with regard to other civic amenities in our area. But the stench from the lake is unbearable. I appeal to the authorities to clean up the lake as early as possible,’’ said Priya Uttham, a resident.The residents complain that the authorities had spent lakhs of rupees on constructing mini check dams to keep the garbage from entering the lake but these are not permanent solutions they allege.“Snakes have become common on the lake bund and on the drains and roads adjacent to the lake. We are worried about the safety of our children. The lake bund is full of weeds. We want the authorities to clear all the weeds to make the walking path safe and easily accessible to children and senior citizens,’’ said a resident on a condition of anonymity.The members of Visvesvaraya Residents’ Association have been complaining to the BDA engineers to find a solution to their problems but in vain.“We have informed the BDA engineers several times about the bad condition of the lake but nothing has been done. We have written a few letters to them but they are yet to come here and inspect it,” said Ramesh N, president of Visvesvaraya Residents’ Association.Meanwhile, BDA executive engineer Raju has said the lake was handed over to the BruhatMahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the BDA has nothing to do with it.“We have tried our best to keep the lake clean by constructing three mini check dams to prevent garbage entering the lake, along with rainwater. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has not fixed the sewage problems at Mallathahalli and other areas where the UGD and Cauvery water pipeline works are in progress. Sewage water is being let into the storm drain. Till the completion of ongoing developmental works, the residents have to cope with the stench emanating from the sewage that enters the lake,’’ said Raju.However, BBMP Deputy Conservator of Forest (Lakes) T Jagannatha Rao has said that the BDA has not submitted the documents related to the lake. “The BDA has announced the handing over of the lake to us but has not submitted all the related documents. We want to know the exact area of the lake, the money spent on the developmental works and the details of encroachments,’’ Jagannatha Rao said.He said the BBMP would maintain the lake as soon as the BDA hands over all the documents.