QUEEN’S ROAD: Ulsoor lake was once a pristine water body around which Bengaluru loved to spend its evenings. Today, it is a bog full of weeds, trash and Ganesha idols everyone seems to have forgotten about soon after they were immersed.
City Express visited the lake to find out just how badly the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations have affected it. We found piles and piles of litter, and then some more. On one side of the lake, Ganesha idols, fished out after immersion, have been piled up. The part of the lake in front of the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) Centre is chock-a-block with garbage despite the fact that MEG has made several efforts over the years to clean up the lake.
S Govindan, who runs a petty shop near the defence establishment, said, “Just a few days ago, I tried to restrain a person from throwing waste into Ulsoor lake. He told me not to interfere and that it was none of my business. People’s mentality needs to change first.”
When contacted, Mayor B N Manjunath Reddy said he would immediately speak to the engineer concerned. “I was there on the last day of the Ganesha Chaturthi celebrations. I had told the authorities present to clean up the place soon after the festival. They told me that the water in the tank has to be drained and the silt removed. I will see to it that the work is expedited,” he said.
Different lake, similar story: The situation is as bad, if not worse, in Challakere lake in HRBR Layout. While the lake is full of weeds and trash, around it lie broken pathways.
According to residents, drainage also flows into the lake, giving it an unbearable odour.
“Till a few years ago, the lake was a beautiful place to spend our evenings at. But now, nobody goes there after dark as it is desolate. A few anti-social elements use the area to sit around and drink. It is a perfect example of a once beautiful lake going to the dogs thanks to the authorities’ apathy,” said Gerard Peter, who lives in the area.
In May, a ‘Kere Habba’ was organised at the lake to spread awareness among citizens and agencies. It was attended by Karnataka State Pollution Control Board chairman Vaman Acharya. But the habba appears to have sparked no change in the state of the lake.
Officials continue to say development works are in the pipeline. A senior BBMP official, on condition of anonymity, said, “Last year, the lake was handed over to BBMP. We have prepared a detailed project report to develop the lake. This includes fencing, desilting, construction of water inlets and outlets. The estimated cost is Rs 2 crore and it will take a while before we can start work.”