Encroachments, apathy choke this century-old lake

Doddabidarakallu lake that has a history of more than 100 years is in on the verge of dying. Residents blame it on the rampant encroachments, apathy of civic agencies and discharge of sewage into the waterbody.

The lake, which sprawls more than ten acres, spews bad odour due to the sewage accumulated in it, local residents said. Vasanth Kumar, a resident of Nagasandra who grew up nearby the lake vividly remembers it as a hub for fishing. He is dismayed at the present state of the lake.

“The sewage flows directly into the lake from households and nearby industries. The polluted water in the lake has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. We cannot open the windows of our houses and have to make use of nets/mesh to protect ourselves from vector-borne diseases,” Kumar said.

The waterbody falls under the limits of both Nagasandra and Doddabidarakallu villages. Residents said that few years ago, the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) had set up a water purification plant near the lake, but it is hardly of any use.

“The BWSSB has not installed any motor for pumping water and hence the purification plant cannot draw the sewage water. Hence the plant remains unutilised,” local residents said. They added the condition of the lake had gone from bad to worse over the last four years.

Subhash Shetty, who stays in an apartment close to the lake, said that they have submitted memorandums to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike for revival of the lake and their requests have fallen on deaf ears.

According to HMT Layout Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) President Raj Kumar, a project was taken up to revive the lake four years ago, but the Palike did not complete the work.

The lake joins Thippagondanahalli reservoir and in recent years, several apartments and industries have been discharging sewage into the lake, the residents say.

When contacted, Doddabirarakallu corporator Vasudev S said that money under MLA funds was being awaited to take up revival of the lake. He claimed that the Dasarahalli lake brings sewage water into the Doddabidarakallu lake.