Encroachment, dumping of waste threaten sprawling lake

The near-death situation of the Doddaabidarakallu lake is the result of years of neglect when officials turned a blind eye to the encroachment of stormwater drains and then the lake area itself.

The waterbody falls under the limits of both Nagasandra and Doddabidarakallu villages off Tumakuru Road in north Bengaluru. Residents said the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had set up a sewage treatment plant near the lake a few years ago, but it was hardly of any use.

The lake is connected to the Thippagondanahalli reservoir, which comes under the jurisdiction of Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA). The lake bed has no semblance of a waterbody. All that exists is a vast spread of weeds, shrubs and bushes. "Garbage and construction debris have been dumped across the lake bed and the authorities have not taken any measures to save the waterbody. The sewage treatment plant is not treating the water entering the lake,” said Manohar, a resident of Rukmini Nagar.

Subhash Shetty, a resident of an apartment close by, said: “The polluted water in the lake has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. We cannot open the windows and have to make use of nets or a mesh to protect ourselves from vector-borne diseases.”

“We have also submitted memorandums to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bengaluru development authority (BDA) for the revival of the lake. Our requests have fallen on deaf ears,” he added.

After construction of the STP near the lake by BWSSB, a project was taken up to revive the lake several years ago. But the lake has not seen any development in recent years.

Amruth Kumar Solanki, BDA executive engineer (north), said, “We have not revived the lake for the last 10 years. The BBMP and KSPCB have to look after the dumping garbage, debris, and discharge of sewage water into the lake.”

Doddabidarakallu corporator Vasudev S said, “I have received several complaints from residents regarding the lake. The BWSSB is treating the water which is released to the lake. I have even written to various agencies to take appropriate action against people dumping garbage and debris.”