BENGALURU: The Vibhutipura Lake at Lal Bahadur Shastri Nagar (off Old Airport Road), which once had water till the brim, and was home to migratory birds and beautiful flowers, is languishing at present. Barring a stretch of water at one end, it is no sight for sore eyes.
Walkers who have seen the lake in its days of glory are infuriated over its present state. Weeds and other plants have mushroomed all over the lake. A park on one end of the lake is in a decrepit condition with broken and unsafe equipments for children. The lake once extended to 43 acres but encroachments have shrunk its size now. “Deposition of silt and dumping of untreated sewage water by houses around the lake have ruined it,” laments a resident requesting anonymity.
Despite its many flaws, an average of 500 people, particularly from numerous apartments here, walk or run on the joggers track around the lake daily with the numbers shooting up during the weekend.
Four years ago, Rs 3 crore was spent to rejuvenate the lake but it is in a terrible shape now. The foundation stone to construct a Sewage Treatment Plant for the lake and steps to build the track in missing spaces around it were done by the corporator some months ago.
Nirmal Lalwani, a senior citizen and regular walker, said, “If so much is invested on building infrastructure in the city, then why can’t it be done here? It will make a big difference to so many residents here.” Prahlad Majumdar, a retired CEO of a private firm said,
“If Ganga can be cleaned, why not Vibhutipura lake? Will power is what is lacking here.” Srinivas Kulkarni, a Hubballi resident, who frequents the lake, remembers the space being wonderful. “What prevents the government from maintaining it? It could be a wonderful spot for senior citizens like me,” he said. BBMP Lakes department officials were unable to provide inputs about the lake despite repeated attempts to contact them.