Horamavu lakes disappearing amid sewage and garbage

The Horamavu and Horamavu Agara lakes are  suspected to soon join the slew of shrinking lakes in the City.

The principal problem is the influx of untreated sewage into these water bodies. Residents of the area on Sunday voiced their opinions and thoughts about the condition of the existing lakes in Horamavu at an event, ‘Save Horamavu Lakes Walkathon.’

Recalling how the Horamavu Agara lake (near Banaswadi-Kalkere) once was, G Maliappan, a member of ‘Save Horamavu Lakes Group’, said: “It was a clear water body that flowed over 50 acres. It was a pleasant sight. But now, it has turned into a cesspool because of the inflow of sewage from buildings in the vicinity. The fencing is broken in many places and the stormwater drains have been lost to massive encroachment.”

Residents pointed out that a filtration plant was supposed to be constructed near the lakebed in Horamavu Agara ten years ago. Sewage water from nearby localities would be treated at the plant before being let into the lakes. But the project initiated by the Horamavu Panchayat never took full form.

“During monsoon, the lake overflows with sewage from apartments. Houses close to the lake are inundated because of this. The filtration plant should be made functional soon,” said Nagesh.

Satish Sharma, a resident of Brindavan Layout in Horamavu, rued that the nearby Rampura lake was in worse condition as construction debris and garbage were being dumped in the lake. The condition of the lake has deteriorated in the last decade as there has been no supervision, he added.

Arbind Gupta, co-founder of Save Bangalore Lakes Trust (SBLT), conceded that even the Horamavu lake spread across 37.14 acre was in a dilapidated condition. “Both Horamavu and Horamavu Agara lakes come under the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) jurisdiction. Except for fencing, the BDA officials have not taken any steps to restore them.”

The Lake Walkathon organised by Save Horamavu Lakes Group and SBLT saw around 150 volunteers taking part. They signed petitions that will be submitted to the BDA and the Lake Development Authority (LDA).