No waste segregation at Vibuthipura lake, assures MLA

It was victory at last for collective citizen’s activism. A massive campaign against a waste segregation plant proposed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on the Vibuthipura lake bund near HAL had its desired effect. On Sunday, the local KR Puram MLA, B A Basavaraja assured that the lake will not be touched.

Over 800 residents from all localities surrounding the lake had converged for a massive sapling-planting exercise. But even as they planted 1,200 saplings complete with tree guards, they pondered over the threat of the segregation unit.

They were not sure even as 50 resident welfare association representatives submitted memorandums to the MLA, urging that the plan be shelved. The legislator’s assurance pacified them, but doubts lingered. For, tractors had dumped many loads of construction debris on the bund to level the plot, just a week ago. Spearheaded by Team VIKAS, the campaign to rejuvenate and maintain the lake wanted more from the government, the MLA, Bangalore Development Authority and BBMP.

Articulating their collective desire to de-weed, completely fence and secure the 22-acre lake, the team members sought an end to the incessant inflow of untreated sewage. They also wanted security for women and senior citizens from hordes of anti-social elements frequenting the place after dark.

Volunteers had chased away trucks that had clandestinely dumped debris. But on Sunday, they wanted a clear direction from the BBMP against the practice. They had a sound reason: for years, hundreds of residents had strived hard to get encroachments cleared from the lake, its boundary partially fenced and a makeshift walking track created. Lack of toilets had forced several slum-dwellers in the lake’s vicinity to openly defecate on the lake bund. Residents wanted the government to build a few public toilets.

Sunday’s event also had MLC Narayana Swamy, BBMP Joint Commissioner (Mahadevapura zone) Muniveerappa, corporators S G Nagaraj and Manjunath.