Lakes of Bengaluru: Free of encroachment, residents want Veerasagara Lake to be maintained

Veerasagara Lake is spread over 17.24 acre, of which 1.52 acre was encroached by a private player. But the encroached portion was recovered a few years ago, the BBMP said.

Locals said the periphery outside the lake’s boundary is not clean. (Photo credit: Sai Swamy)

In March, a report by NGO ActionAid suggested 16.5 per cent of the saplings planted by Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) under compensatory afforestation at three lakes – Sarakki, Veersagara, and Gottigere – were water-stressed and 4.2 per cent seemed dead.

The survey was conducted between March 16 and 23. The report was submitted to the BMRCL.

“A team of four student interns at ActionAid Association were oriented on the role of trees in the environment and reasons on how forest cover has been reducing across the globe and been a reason for climate change. In urban environments, for various public projects we lose on the green cover and our efforts to regrow them. BMRCL compensatory afforestation was worked out as a case study. The students randomly selected three lakes Sarakki, Gottigere and Veerasagara for the survey and conducted the survey between 16th to 23rd March 2023,” the report said.

Out of 120 saplings at Veerasagara Lake, 113 were tied to binding wires. The binding wires were used to tie the board bearing tree numbers.

Sai Swamy, one of the students who participated in the survey, said binding wires hamper the growth of plants.

“I visited the lake to take a count of the saplings. Most of the saplings were tied with a binding wire. This hampers their growth. The report was submitted to the BMRCL in March with a suggestion that binding wires should be removed. I visited a lake two weeks ago and found that these wires were removed,” he said.

“Solid waste was found inside the lake. The walking path is maintained,” Swamy added.

Locals said the periphery outside the lake’s boundary is not clean. “The way mindless urbanisation took a toll on most of the lakes in Bengaluru it might take a toll on this lake as well. The lake remains dry most of the time unless it rains… So, land sharks and government bodies have often encroached on the lake when it was found to be dry. Also, the surroundings outside the lake’s boundary should be clean. Plastic waste is thrown inside the lake and outside the lake… we can see construction debris and garbage,” said Ravindra MV, a resident.

A home guard has been deployed to protect the lake. The lake is open for walkers in the mornings and evenings.