Trash dumped in the vicinity of Attur Lake near Yelahanka.
Credit: DH Photo/BK Janardhan
Bengaluru: Residents living around Attur Lake near Yelahanka New Town have raised concerns over garbage strewn around the lake premises.
The issue has persisted for the past five to six years, they told DH.
Vinod Dumblekar, who lives about 700 metres from the lake and visits it regularly, said, “Locals have turned the outer perimeter into a dumping ground. Heaps of garbage pile up daily, and the BBMP does not clean the spot consistently.” A resident since 2015, he added, “The problem was far worse five years ago, but even now, there is no steady effort to clear the mess.”
During the monsoon, garbage seeps through gaps in the metal railing. “One stretch near an entry gate is particularly bad, with waste spilling onto the road and leaving a foul stench,” said Srinath CV, 54, a daily morning walker at the lake.
Adding to the problem is a drainage pipe discharging directly into the lake. "All the drain water from Attur Layout flows into it, turning the water a sickly greyish black,” Srinath added.
Residents said that repeated complaints to the BBMP went unanswered. “The helpline numbers on their website do not work, and emails bounce back. Finally, yesterday, the BBMP commissioner responded to a recent email and directed his subordinates to take immediate action,” Dumblekar said.
Karee Gowda, Zonal Commissioner (Yelahanka Zone), told DH he had not received any complaints about the persistent garbage problem at Attur Lake.