Residents fight court battle for lung space

The Mestripalya Lake located near BDA Complex, Koramangala, was once spread over 10.4 hectares. Now it is just a disputed vacant land surrounded by high rise apartments.

The lake had been in existence since the mid 1800s. Those days, it provided drinking water for people and cattle living in nearby villages and it also irrigated farm lands.  But over the years, the quality of its water fell due to reckless dumping of garbage by people. Today, human beings as well as winged visitors avoid the water body.

Due to the increased presence of concrete buildings, there is no place for water to flow. It gets trapped and flows on to the roads. The Mestripalya Lake is connected to the Chinnagara tank located near the Koramangala 4th block and developed by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA). Residential areas and roads have come up near the tank blocking the water flow.

A long time resident, Paul Thomas, recalled the good old days. “I still remember this place when there was a lake. I used to go there with my dogs. They loved playing in the water and I loved watching them from the bank. It was an experience visiting the place. There was always a variety of animals around the water body.”

While the lake presents a sad picture, there is till some hope. A group of residents of Koramangala, 3rd Block, have prepared a detailed project report and handed it over to BDA. They are now working in tandem with experts to restore the lake and ecosystem.

The lake land is under litigation and the case started in 1972 when the BDA attempted to obtain 6.2 acre of the land. The move was challenged in the Supreme Court. However, the verdict came in favour of the BDA.

In 2005, residents filed a petition in the high court against BDA move to allot the 6.2 acres for formation of layouts. The petitioners wanted the land to be converted into a park or a playground, as it is contiguous with the entire lake area, measuring 11.8 acres.

In December 2006, the high court passed an order directing the BDA and the Government of Karnataka not to allot the disputed land to any person until further orders. Members of the local residents’ welfare association are eagerly awaiting the next hearing which, they hope, would favour them and not the BDA.

A concerned resident, Sukumar Bhatt said: “It’s high time these lakes are restored if we have to maintain the temperature, the climate and greenery of Bangalore. A few rainwater harvesting projects in these lakes are not going to completely recharge the city’s subsoil water. We need these lakes and I hope that the government will wake up.”