JOIN USKammasandra Lake in Electronics City, that was once a fresh water lake with natural aqua and bird habitat, has turned into a garbage dump yard.
The lake is under the custody of Hebbagodi Gram Panchayat. According to GP members, the lake which sprawled across 22 acres has reduced to 19 acres in recent years due to encroachments. The members said that discharge of sewage into the lake had polluted the water body.
Residents in the vicinity put the blame on residential and commercial complexes in the vicinity, for the poor state of the lake.
Lokesha Chakra, a resident, said that earlier, the lake was clean and frequented by migratory birds. “However, it is now in a bad shape due to dumping of garbage and discharge of sewage. There had been no action despite submitting several memorandums to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and the Lokayukta,” he said.
Another resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that living near the lake had become impossible with the unbearable stench pervading the entire area. He said that while apartment complexes are bound to set up STPs, they had been discharging sewage into the lake, thus polluting the water body.
H N Nagaraj, former president and member of Hebbagodi Gram Panchayat said that it had been proposed to set up a sewage treatment plant as a last option and they have written to City in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy seeking assistance.
Zilla Panchayat Engineering Subdivision Assistant Executive Engineer, Anekal taluk, told Deccan Herald that the work on the STP would be taken up this year. He said a Rs 3.85-crore detailed project report had been prepared for the project. The plant would occupy two acres on the lake bed, he added.