Heaps
of debris dumped around, broken fence, reeking water, unkempt garden, tons of
garbage, floating plastic are the striking first visuals of Agara Lake. Post
the landmark judgment and cancellation of PPP lease in Feb 2012, lake was
handed over to Lake Development Authority, very little rather nothing has been
done since then.
An
early morning walk around the lake is a painful experience, construction
workers and laborers carrying water bottles looking for a spot or young boys jumping
across the fence to attend nature call is a common scene. If one decides to ignore
all that and walks towards the water treatment plant which is no more
functional, one cannot miss noticing a new entrance for the tractors carrying
debris from various construction sites. The excess debris dumping has blocked
any possible flow of the drainage water into the treatment plant area, ensuring
that all the money spent on the treatment plant went straight into the
drain.
The
lake that once attracted several birds and was a favorite walking/jogging area for
many residents across HSR Layout, Jakkasandra, Iblur and Koramangala is
completely abandoned. Who wants to start the day walking around piles of stinking
garbage or watching people carrying water bottles or even worst - bare bums?
Many
concerned Citizen and Eco groups worked relentlessly, gathering support, meeting
authorities and demanding action but got nothing more than a list of excuses,
with no plan-of-action or timeline to fix the deteriorating situation of the
lake.
Ask
about the plan for the lake, maze of administrative complexities are in full
display, here is just a sample:
- Maintenance of storm water drains across the layouts is with one authority but ensuring underground sewage pipes are not leaked into storm water drainage that feeds the treatment plant of lake is with the other.
- Ensuring the garbage is not dumped around the lake is with one, cleaning the existing garbage around and inside the lake area is with the other.
- The technical responsibility of implementation the water treatment plant is with one authority but the responsibility of the lake and its financial requirements lies with the other.
- Tree plantation, gardening, introducing fishes into the lake, lighting, security are the responsibility of an altogether different multiple authorities.
Added to depressing saga of the lake are the anti-social elements, who have made the lake area their safe hideout or should I say trade joint. Chain snatchers, gamblers, drinking gangs, prostitution rackets are all out in open with no fear of law or of any authorities what so ever. One can blame the open access due to broken fencing around the lake, but in reality every authority and elected representative in the locality have chosen to ignore the lake, and ignorance is indeed bliss?
Today,
as I write the faith of Agara Lake hangs in balance more than ever, the monsoon
which is the major source of water for the lake is just around the corner, and
I am not confident if the authorities will take advantage of a good monsoon (as
predicted by meteorological department) this year and act upon to ensure
maximum rain water is collected in the lake. When the hard reality of the depleting
ground water tables is staring at us, it would be criminal not to make an
effort to contain the situation by harvesting the water in the lake that would
in turn recharge the ground water tables.
Apathy of the authorities and elected
representatives has indeed lead to the multi-fold problems of the lake.
It’s high time all administrative wings and elected representatives stop
passing the buck; it’s time they assess the gravity of the
situation and take collective and affirmative action. Unless there is a
synchronized action across authorities with responsibilities fixed, any action
will be a futile exercise and a waste of tax payers money.
The
apathy of the authorities and elected representatives makes me wonder if
commercial pressures are acting upon to ensure that the lake is not revived and
restored. It will not be far from truth to say any delay will only mean letting
the lake die an unnatural death and become a hot real estate ready for sale.
- Kavitha Reddy
Published in Times of India Times - Neighbourhood Sarjapur Road - HSR Layout on 14th June 2013
Published in Times of India Times - Neighbourhood Sarjapur Road - HSR Layout on 14th June 2013
