BENGALURU: Saving one of the most precious water bodies of the city, Sankey Tank, is gradually taking the shape of a people’s movement with the government’s total ineptitude in protecting the lake and its forests from the greedy eyes of realtors and builders. Once again, the affected residents, environmentalists and concerned citizens take to the streets on February 20 to hold a three-hour peaceful rally and put pressure on the governement to do a survey of the water body and take back all encroached lands.
The tragedy of Sankey Tank is, how a pristine forest land with unbelievable biodiversity abutting it, is today owned by a private builder. This is all because of the failure of the government to put proper scientific evidence before the High Court and protect the lake from encroachment and commercialisation, says Vijay Nishant of Project Vriksha. He has come out with a final report of the rich biodiversity of the Sankey Tank and its surrounding forest areas which can be, used as evidence before the apex court.
To better document the existing biodiversity around Sankey Tank, Vruksha.com undertook an extensive census of trees and saplings that are found here. Nishanth adds, “We have also undertaken preliminary faunal observations around Sankey Tank and intend to undertake a more detailed study of the same. This report presents the results of our tree census and preliminary field studies on the rich faunal diversity.”
He explains that based on their extensive survey of this water body and scientific studies, the government can challenge the High Court order. “This is one of the richest biodiversity hotspots of Bengaluru where the 7.2 acres of forest land has 1250 trees, 40,000 bats, bonnet macaques, squirrels, the endangered slender loris and numerous migratory and local birds like Brahminy kites, various species of cormorants, white breasted kingfishers, robins, flower peckers and other small herbivores and carnivores.”
Nishanth adds, “Today, the only green space around the lake is that provided by the lake itself as well a small, dense cover of vegetation in the forest patch to the west of the lake. It is therefore highly important that these last lung spaces of the city remain intact and are not encroached or polluted. We realised that Sankey Tank is a veritable urban biodiversity hotspot with over 40 species of trees alone!”
Three-hour Rally
According to Sankey Tank Walkers’ Association President Dr A R Anand, the continuing encroachment and commercial construction will deplete the lake’s water and water table in the area. “We want the government to take back the change of land use order that has been given pertaining to the forest land next to the Sankey Lake bed. Further, the government should take back 7.2 acres of forest land from real estate builders who are out to turn the city into a concrete jungle. The government should also order an immediate survey of the Sankey tank area and take back all encroached lands immediately.”
Concerned citizens, who are participating in the relay dharna led by freedom fighter H S Doreswami at Malleshwaram Gate of Sankey Tank from 10 am to 1 pm, hope the protest will put pressure on the government to reclaim the land from realtors and appeal in court the with better scientific evidence.
In a rapidly urbanizing and transforming city, a space such as this offers an unique opportunity to observe urban wildlife at close hand, while maintaining ecological sustainability in the region, concludes Project Vruksha’s survey team. Such spots are invaluable in the larger urban context and efforts have to focus on protecting the landscape including the patch of forest- from conversion and encroachments, so that a biodiverse oasis may be preserved in its beauty for future generations to learn and benefit from.
High Court Ruling
The Karnataka Government lost its appeal in the High Court in 2015 against the land transaction (between Gulf Oil Corporation who owned the forest land and Mantri Developers) and therefore, the new owners were ready with a commercial plan to concretise this habitat. The High Court, directed the government to execute and lodge for registration of the Deed of Transfer in favour of Gulf Oil Corporation and help Mantri Developers, in executing its plan of building 400 apartments abutting the lake. Both the State government and the Forest Department failed to produce any documents to justify the contention of public interest on the Sankey tank issue.
Biodiversity evidence
A total of 584 adult trees were mapped along with 140 saplings. The total number of individuals of 40 species of trees around Sankey Tank was found to be 724. Native trees such as neem, tamarind, peepal, Banyan and the Arjuna Tree were found along with other naturalized species like the Gulmohur, the Singapore Cherry and the Copperpod. This report makes it very clear that Sankey Tank is a highly biodiverse region and it is important to conserve the biodiversity inherently present here. The endangered slender loris, bonnet macaques, cormorants, Brahminy kites and other migratory birds have made this habitat their home for a long time now.