A panel of experts from the Lake Development Authority have advised the authorities concerned to shun differences to save the Kukkarahalli Lake in the city. The experts visited the lake on Tuesday following opposition by environmentalists to desilt the lake.

Former IISc scientist Ram Prasad and former chief engineer C N Babu said that there is definitely a need for desilting but if the silt is removed before clean water is filled in it, there are chances of sewage water getting into the pits and polluting the lake.

Prasad told reporters that first, the samples of the water in the lake should be tested. Steps should be taken to fill the lake with clean water. As of now, there is no use of desilting the lake. The experts attended a meeting convened by Deputy Commissioner D Randeep at his office to discuss the desilting of the lake.

“The lake is in a pathetic state due discharge of sewage.  Environmentalists, botanists, irrigation experts and others are divided in their opinion over the development of Kukkarahalli Lake. A suitable decision could be taken only after analysing all factors. Information will be collected on the encroachment on the lake. The lake should be conserved in its original form,” said Babu.

Earlier, DC Randeep gave details of the proposed development works, the estimate and also about the agitation both for and against the desilting works.

He urged the experts to comprehensively study the problems plaguing the lake and sought solutions to conserve it for future generations.

The team of experts are in the city in the wake of the protests against the desilting of the lake which was undertaken recently.  The lake is under the jurisdiction of the University of Mysore, however, the sewage from the drains of the Mysuru City Corporation flows into it.