The lake, which was developed to attract visitors, has now turned into urinal and dumping zone.
Kengeri Lake can be a lifeline for borewells in and around Kengeri provided the authorities concerned take measures to maintain it properly.
The lake was developed by the state forest department at an estimated cost of ` 95 lakh in 1995. As part of development and rejuvenation of the lake, the forest department had developed islands, pathways and also fenced the 25-acre lake apart from providing boating facility. Now, the lake is full of weeds and water hyacinth, and the boats are also unfit for use.
“The forest department had been maintaining the lake well till three years ago. If the condition of the lake is anything to go by, it seems that no one has taken responsibility to maintain it,’’ said Shamanna Gowda, a resident of Kengeri.
One can see the abandoned boats at the bank of the lake and there is not a single person to guard them. A contractor had dumped the debris at the lake, just opposite to Kengeri Satellite Bus Stand, and even the lake’s fence is broken.
“I do not know why the forest department authorities have neglected this lake. The need of the hour is to remove weeds and water hyacinth from the lake and take up development works such as repairing the pathways, islands and replace the broken fence,’’ said P Sadananda, another resident of Kengeri.
Buses, hawkers become menace
With most of the Bangalore-bound BMTC and KSRTC busses not entering the bus stand, commuters wait on the road and not in the bus stand to board buses to Bangalore. As the authorities failed to provide a toilet near the bus shelter, the commuters have converted the lake bund in an open urinal.
The hawkers are second to none to pollute the lake by throwing leftover food and waste material into it. “The police do nothing. They collect money from the hawkers. The public also should not use the tank bund to attend nature’s call. It will be embarrassing for women commuters to see men attending nature’s call without any inhibition,’’ said a woman commuter.
Meanwhile, Hemanna NB, range forest officer, has said that it had become difficult for the forest department to maintain the lake due to acute shortage of funds.
“The state government has decided to handover the lake to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) in 2010 but the civic body is yet to takeover its maintenance. It is almost more than two years, no development work was taken up at the lake,’’ said Hemanna.
However, R Anjanappa, corporator of Kengeri ward, said that a proposal has been sent to the BBMP to allocate Rs3 crore for the development of the lake.
“I expect the BBMP to sanction the funds this year for the development of the lake,’’ said Anjanappa.
When brought to Anjanappa’s notice about the debris and broken fence at the lake bund, he said that a contractor, who is assigned to lay water pipes, had dumped the debris. “The contractor will clear the debris as soon as the work is over,’’ said the corporator.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}