Rs 8 crore goes down Allalasandra lake

Although the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) spent Rs 8 crore to rejuvenate Allalasandra lake and ‘rescued’ it from the negligence of the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) in 2009, it still craves attention.

The contractors removed the silt from the lake and constructed pathways around it. They also constructed a compound wall and fenced the lake. However, that’s where the development stopped, and the parthenium weeds took over. The pathway, due to negligence, has become impossible to walk on. Also, stink emanates from the stagnant sewage water that flows into the lake from residential apartments in the area.

“The BBMP spent a lot of money to rejuvenate this lake, but the atmosphere around the lake is not conducive to attract visitors in the morning and evening,’’ said M Muniraju, corporator from Yelahanka Satellite Town and chairman, standing committee of horticulture. Ironically, the BBMP standing committee on horticulture did not sanction a single rupee for the maintenance of this lake last year.

“I am planning to allocate some funds for the maintenance of this lake. I am waiting for the BWSSB to drain out the sewage water from the lake. We can appoint security guards and clear all weeds on the lake bund,’’ said Muniraju.

The authorities have put up concrete benches for people who want to relax around the lake, but these benches have become frequented by drunkards. There is no lighting facility on the pathway, making it difficult for the people to visit this lake in the evening.

According to the residents, BWSSB engineers played villain by diverting the sewage water into the lake. The residents feel the engineers need to diverge the water to the sewage treatment plant (STP) situated at Yelahanka.

In regard to this, V Ramanna Gowda, assistant engineer, BWSSB, said the authorities have already sanctioned funds for constructing a separate channel to divert sewage water to the STP.

“We have to invite bidders to take up the work. It is estimated to cost the BWSSB around Rs 60 lakh,’’ said Gowda. He said the treated water could be supplied to Prestige and others who want to use it for watering gardens and other purposes.

Burial ground near the lake
Perhaps to provide instant burial for those who died of malaria or other illnesses due to the unhygienic surroundings of Allalasandra lake, the BBMP authorities had made a provision for a burial ground adjacent to the lake. According to the residents, the burial ground existed for quite long time and it was the only place available around Allalasandra to bury bodies. “It is quite disgusting for me to see graves in the morning. I hope the BBMP authorities allocate land at a suitable location for the burial ground,’’ said M Ramachandra, a resident.

BBMP cleans up Arakere mess
With transport minister Ramalinga Reddy deciding to visit Arakere lake on Thursday, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) authorities deployed more than 50 pourakarmikas to drain out the muddy water that entered over 50 houses in Arakere and surroundings areas. On Tuesday night, rain water mixed with sewage from Arakere lake entered many houses situated in low-lying areas, when the land bund was breached on Tuesday night due to heavy rain. “We are very happy with the pourakarmikas cleaning the drains that were chocked with silt and garbage. They drained out water after cleaning the rain water drains,’’ said Gil Christ, a resident of the area. Along with the transport minister, MLA M Satish Reddy and AN Purushotham, corporator from Arakere ward, visited the affected localities.