Varthur Lake biodiversity park faces opposition as locals halt plantation drive

A representative of SayTrees said the species to be planted were discussed with environmental expert T V Ramachandra of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at IISc.
To plant 10,000 saplings, a plantation drive was launched on the banks of Varthur Lake on January 31. Around 1,500 saplings were planted on the first day.
To plant 10,000 saplings, a plantation drive was launched on the banks of Varthur Lake on January 31. Around 1,500 saplings were planted on the first day.(Photo | Express)
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BENGALURU: The environmental-friendly move to create a biodiversity park in Varthur Lake ran into rough waters on Saturday, just a day after its launch. The government is taking urgent steps to rejuvenate the 445-acre lake with support from NGOs and experts.

In line with the MoU signed between the State and the NGO ‘SayTrees’ three months ago, a total of 10,000 saplings are to be planted along the banks of the Varthur Lake. The project was launched on Friday (Jan 31) by Mahadevapura MLA Manjula Limbavalli with around 1,500 saplings planted on the day.

A top BDA source told TNIE, “When the plantation drive was continued on the second day, a group of locals strongly opposed the planting and asked the workers to stop doing it. The rejuvenation of the lake is a very complex and genuine effort by the BDA to revive this water body.”

The localites state the saplings are unscientific and are not suitable for the lake. The group is alleged to be driven by the vested interests of a few influential individuals here, he added.

A representative of SayTrees said the species to be planted were discussed with environmental expert T V Ramachandra of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at IISc. “Only after he vetted them, we finalised the saplings that would be planted there. The saplings are sponsored by a firm as part of their CSR scheme,” he said.

N Jagadish Reddy, a citizen, is among those strongly opposing the plantation drive. “It is a short sighted move. The saplings are being planted on wetlands and shallow areas. A biodiversity park cannot be created here and it violates the National Green Tribunal order.

The distance between the saplings is very close and unscientific. We only want native species to be planted here” he told TNIE. Claiming that many active resident welfare groups and public in the area too opposed the plantation drive, Reddy added, that a Nakshatra park needs to be created here.

Reddy added that the government instead needs to give priorty to shift a pipeline that runs right through the middle of the lake. “It carries treated water to Kolar. The minor irrigation department needs to remove that to help us preserve the lake better. We have asked them repeatedly to do that,” Reddy added.

Another BDA official said the plantation will be completed to improve the lake, despite opposition from groups that are allegedly politically motivated.

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