Several lakes restored by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) a few years ago are in shambles. Spread over 11 acres, the Kodige Singasandra Lake in the Bommanahalli zone was restored at a cost of Rs 14 lakh in 2019 but is facing the brunt of a lack of maintenance. Raghavendra B Pachhapur, Senior Project Lead with NGO ActionAid Association, said that the water quality of Singasandra Lake has been bad for more than a year. “The BBMP has allotted Rs 22.32 lakh maintenance contract of Singasandra and Somasundara Palya lakes to a contractor in November 2022. The maintenance of a lake cannot be reduced to grass cutting and cleaning walking paths. They need to maintain inlets and diversion channels. Lake maintenance across Bengaluru is not up to the mark. The chief commissioner of BBMP should call for a review of lake maintenance,” he said. “For the last six months, the water quality of the lake has been in the Class-E which is not at all conducive for wildlife. It warrants serious action from the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). Forty lakes of Bengaluru have been classified under Class-E in the month of June this year. I request the Member Secretary-KSPCB and Chairman-KSPCB to take cognizance of the deteriorating water quality in the lakes of Bengaluru and act appropriately to stop pollution in lakes,” he added. Aaron Jaji, an intern with ActionAid, said, “The inlet and outlet of the lake are not well maintained. We can see sewage water entering the lake. The lake is greenish, which is a bad sign, and I did not see any fish in the lake which indicates that the water is polluted. There is waste on the sides of the lake which is a really bad sign. The lake is not managed well.” Jaji was allegedly stopped by security at the lake from taking pictures of the area. “Surprisingly, while I was surveying the lake the security in charge questioned my presence in a public place. He then proceeded to call lake engineers. Afterward, the engineer and security guard told me sternly to delete all the pictures I took of the lake. This makes me believe there is a lack of transparency in the management of the lake,” he added. A BBMP official said requesting anonymity, “We will ask the contractor to look into the maintenance issues. Moreover, the public is free to take pictures at the lake. I will look into the issue.” Offering his insight into the declining condition of the lakes, Vijender Reddy, co-founder and CEO of DrinkPrime, said: “In the 1960s, the city had more than 200 lakes which were filled with fresh water to the brim. Bengaluru currently has less than 10 lakes that are clean and have water that can be used for consumption and other purposes. The same is the case in almost all cities in India. Delhi, Hyderabad, you name it, every city has witnessed an alarming decline in their water bodies and their quality. Unfortunately, with 70 per cent of India’s water bodies contaminated, urban lakes face several challenges that threaten their existence.” “With the alarming decline in the number of clean and usable lakes, individuals, communities, and authorities must take immediate action. By raising awareness, adopting responsible practices, supporting conservation efforts, and actively participating in initiatives, we can work towards preserving these water bodies. Only through collective efforts and a strong commitment to sustainable practices can we secure a better future, where urban lakes thrive as vital sources of freshwater for generations to come,” he added.
