Yele Mallappa Chetty lake leased to MEG for staff training

It has to check garbage dumping, encroachments

The newly-formed Lake Conservation and Development Authority (LCDA) has passed final orders leasing out the Yele Mallappa Chetty lake near KR Puram to the Madras Engineer Group (MEG) for training its personnel. The water body has been leased out to the defence establishment, the way it has been done with regard to the Ulsoor lake.

The LCDA had granted permission to the MEG on November 18, 2015 to use the lake, with some riders.

Additional terms and conditions were imposed by the Empowered Committee after a meeting in September 2015 and the final revised orders were issued early this month. The vast water body was already being used by the MEG for training its staff when the preliminary orders were issued.

A senior LCDA official told Deccan Herald that the MEG has been using the lake for training purposes since past one year. “This is a good move as the defence officials will not only use the lake for training, but will also ensure that the water body is clean and free from encroachment, which is the need of the hour.”

Custodian

Minor Irrigation department is the custodian of the lake spread across 490.15 acres. The lake is spread across Avalahalli, Heerandahalli, Krudu Sonnenahalli, Medahalli and Veerenahalli villages around KR Puram.

According to lake experts, the lake is highly polluted with sewage and faces constant fear of encroachment. The LCDA official said the MEG personnel will use the lake for all water sports like kayaking, canoeing, watermanship training, sailing and wind -related activities.

Some of the major conditions imposed on them are: visit of officials and people to the lake should not be restricted, the agreement should be renewed every year, water quality tests should be regularly done and if the report is not satisfactory the agreement will be immediately cancelled, it cannot claim ownership of the lake, sewage entry from all points should be diligently monitored, the eco-system and bird habitat should not be hampered, it should prevent dumping of garbage and encroachment, de-weed the lake regularly, ensure that bund, waste weir, inlet and outlet of the lake is not damaged and no structures or boards are erected in and around the lake.