Even as Lake Development Authority (LDA) drags on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) process without paying any attention to the basic maintenance of Agara Lake, the October rains have ensured the lake is back to life with water to the brim. The birds, fishes and the flora & fauna is back in the lake, the lush green trees feels more relaxing than ever, a lap around the lake gives the much needed fresh air this is missing in the concrete jungles of Bengaluru.
LDA has been neglecting the lake without de-weeding
or removal of hyacinth which has been rapidly growing in the lake, nothing much
to speak about on the cleaning of the lake surrounding, all in the excuse of
DPR. There is urgency and a need to complete the DPR in a stipulated time and
to take it to the implementation level and revive the lake to the fullest. The
reasons known only to LDA, there is no sign of a timeline nor a sense of
urgency even after 18 months since the citizens first started the Save Agara
Lake drive.
Added to the apathy of LDA are BWSSB inability to
ensure that the sewage water is not let into the SWD and most importantly BBMP
unwillingness to keep the SWD garbage and silt free. Even an average rain
floods the city of Bengaluru, and it will not be an exaggeration to say that if
BBMP keeps all the 800+kms of SWD clean the rain water will fill the lakes in
Bengaluru and the case of Agara Lake is no different.
Even after repeated follow-up LDA has not shown any
interest in getting a check-dam build in the main SWD to feed the lake nor
has it asked the BBMP to clear the blockages in the smaller SWD that are in
the Agara Lake catchment area. With Lake Activists form the Save Agara Lake
forum running from pillar to post; it was indeed the support and guidance from Mr
Ugrappa MLC that lead to some drastic action to finally get water into Agara
Lake.
Agara Lake has a very good catchment area and is
also part of the lake cluster that is interlinked, Bengaluru received good
amount of rains between June-October, and this year also it was no different.
Last year Agara Lake was full much earlier and the difference being this year
there seem to be a consolidated effort from LDA, BBMP and BWSSB not to utilize
the good rains to fill the lake. If not for the Lake Activist who got the
active support and participation from Mr Ugrappa MLC the lake would have stayed
dry.
The change in the attitude of these authorities
only suggests that there is an aggressive push to waste Rs 35 crs of public
money on an STP with would also have a yearly expenditure of Rs 1 cr, which
actually may not be required if LDA, BBMP, BWSSB do the work they are suppose
to be doing.
The nexus seems to be getting clear day by day, the
intent is to ensure that the lake dries-up, and the agenda of STP is pushed.
People who have been in the lake vicinity and the residents of Agara village
know very well that the lake is a rain water harvesting zone and the lake has
always received good inflow of water even when the lake was under litigation and
was completely abandoned for few years.
The fact of the matter is that the greed of money
and builder nexus seems to be delaying the lake revival process, and its time
LDA is held accountable and asked to be transparent about the DPR and the
timelines for revival works to start.
It’s time the elected representatives take a good
long walk around the lake and see the number of missed opportunities, the
chocked water inlets point at the story of how the authorities has
systematically trying to cut the rain water inflow to the lake.
City of Bengaluru which was once know as a city of
1000 lakes now has about 150+ identified lakes and Lake Activists from every
corner of the city are putting a brave fight to retain, revive and rejuvenate
the lakes. Agara Lake has a history of more than 100 years, the hallmark of the
lake is its wetland design which serves as an excellent bio-filter and is also
a rainwater harvesting zone, most importantly it’s the Pride of HSR Layout; it
must be restored to its past glory in the right way and should not end up as
one more scam in the making.
- Kavitha Reddy, Lake Activist
Also appeared in HSR Layout & Koramangala 31st Oct 2014 edition of City Plus
http://cityplusepaper.jagran.com/c/3750907
Also appeared in HSR Layout & Koramangala 31st Oct 2014 edition of City Plus
http://cityplusepaper.jagran.com/c/3750907