Bengaluru's Mallasandra Gudde lake about to vanish

People living around the Mallasandra Gudde Lake in Dasarahalli, North Bengaluru, now fear the worst as debris and garbage are being dumped at the waterbody everyday. To top it, land sharks are on the prowl as well.

According to the residents, a portion of the lake is gradually being encroached upon by dumping Construction and Demolition (C&D) debris to prepare a kaccha private road.

Lakshmikanth M, a research scholar who conducted a survey on the lake, said: “Around 1.5 acres of the 17-acre lake has been encroached by various individuals. There is no sign of water because of encroachment of the rajakaluves connecting to the lake.”

“Some people have constructed the kaccha road on the lake bed. Even temporary sheds have come up,” he added.

The lake has been subject to inflow of untreated sewage as well. “Sewage from surrounding apartments enters the lake. It is highly contaminated and needs immediate action,” said Ravindra Kumar, a local resident.

Recently under the leadership of freedom fighter, H S Doreswamy, local residents and Namma Bengaluru Foundation had protested near the lake bed after conducting an inspection.

“There is still confusion on who is the custodian of the waterbody. It seems that the BDA is the custodian on paper. But the BBMP has earmarked Rs 5 crore for the development of the lake, out of which Rs 3 crore has been utilised. We sadly cannot see any evidence of any development though. The BBMP needs to state where the money has been spent. Moreover, the BDA and the BBMP must stop passing the buck,” said Suresh N R of the Namma Bengaluru Foundation.

The Mallasandra corporator, Lokesh N, was not available for comment.