JOIN US Corporators cutting across party lines expressed their concern over the pathetic condition of lakes, which are fast disappearing due to rampant encroachment and sewage.
Raising the issue in the BBMP Council meeting on Wednesday, DJ Halli corporator Sampath Raj drew the attention of the Mayor towards the deteriorating condition of Horamavu lake.
Highlighting the encroachment and sewage choking the lake, he urged the Palike administration to initiate measures to fence it. Horamavu corporator Tejaswini Raju endorsed Sampath Raj's statement and pointed that the stormwater drain of the lake has also been encroached upon.
Participating in the discussion, Jayamahal corporator M K Gunashekar said the BBMP is custodian of all lakes within the BBMP limits as per a High Court order and sought Palike's action to protect them. He also demanded a White Paper on the lakes.
The JD(S) floor leader R Prakash squarely blamed the multi-storey apartments for the poor condition of lakes. He also held the Town Planning section of the BBMP responsible for legalising encroachment of lakes and their stormwater drains. He said traffic, garbage and water crises are the gift of these multi-storey apartments.
He also demanded a special Council meeting on lakes. The Mayor said he had been holding meetings regarding the lakes and stormwater drains.
Replying to the corporators, the Commissioner said there are 60 lakes under BBMP, of which 26 have been developed by the Palike, while work is on to clear encroachment on the remaining lakes.
Later, the corporators took to task BBMP chief engineer (SWD) H C Ananthaswamy for not clearing encroachment of stormwater drains and the slow pace of the remodeling of drains.
Replying to the allegations, the Commissioner said dearth of funds had slowed down the anti-encroachment drive and the remodeling of drains. He said the work would gain pace once funds come from the Centre under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.