BENGALURU: Regina Gurung Unwilling to let Horamavu Agara lake in Banaswadi meet the fate of Bellandur lake, residents of the area have made it their responsibility to protect the lake. Shalitha Sasi moved to the area around two years ago. The lake did not give the pungent smell neither was it full of weed as it is now, she points out. On Sunday morning, a number of residents like Shalitha took part in a walkathon as a first step to create awareness about the initiative. As a sign of support, as many as 2,000 residents showed up including children, senior citizens and corporators. A 2.2 km walk was organised around the lake.
A conference was also held where a number of issues concering lake protection were discussed. Residents’ group The programme itself was organized by ‘Enough is Enough,’ a group comprising local residents, which was formed on February 22. Their aim is to raise the plight of their neighbourhood and especially of Horamavu Agara lake. “The issue of problems with the lake was first raised about two years back but everyone gave the ‘not my baby’ attitude,” says Anuprita Rajesh, member of Enough is Enough. The lake is shrinking as its periphery is being encroached upon, garbage is being indiscriminately thrown in it, she adds. “About six months back we caught illegal dumping happening at the lake. We filed a petition and realized that enough is enough.
Hence the name,” says Anuprita. In about a month, the group which consists of 40 volunteers organised the event with their own money. Maji Ammanath, another member of group, says, “With so little resources and in so little time, we could organize this event. We hope that others will also raise and resolve more issues,” adds Maji. Residents wanted the participation of as many people as possible, including old residents who used to live near the lake before the big buildings were built. The group organized a flash mob on Saturday evening at four main junction points of Horamavu.
“This way many people inquired. They wanted to know why we were dancing and we told them to come to the event the next morning,” Maji says. Fund to Clean Lake MLA Byrathhi Basvaraj who attended the event announced that a sum of `3 crore has been sanctioned to rejuvenate the Horamavu lake and the work will start in the the next 15 days. To begin things, a ‘puja’ for the lake restoration will take place on April 19. “The lake will be desilted and emptied then rejuvenated with new clean water.
This will also help improve the greenery around the area,” says Byrathi. Residents also raised a concern about borewells drying up. A conceptual map of the plan to develop the lake area containing joggers track, gazebos, sewage drain and security room was also unveiled. “There has been a lot of big promises, we will see to it that it gets implemented,” say residents. Byrathi also said that the Cauvery water would be accessible to them in the next six to eight months as the Cauvery pipe is being extended to the area. He also said that all the lakes in KR Puram constituency would be looked at.