Link up to clean up

Says Admiral Dawson: 8220;Water has always fascinated me. When I was in the Navy, Ulsoor Lake was where we used to compete in various events. Over the years, I8217;ve seen it deteriorate. I knew that something had to be done.8221;The Ulsoor lake dates back to the period of Kempe Gowda I and II, the founders of Bangalore, circa 16th century. In 1866-67, Sir Lewin Bentham Bowring, the British Commissioner ofBangalore, constructed storm-water drains to carry rain water and a bund to make this tank a reservoir of potable water.

However, today, little remains of that reservoir. Large portions of the lake are covered with water hyacinth, weeds and worse. Effluents and the sewage surrounding the area have polluted its waters, leaving it a murky green breeding ground for mosquitoes and disease. Military Engineering Group MEG training personnel, who have water events on the lake, say they have caught scabies and other skin disorders after a dip. So, swimming is ruled out these days. The water may also carry dangerous amounts of lead as painted idols are immersed in it during festivals.

There have been many proposals to restore the lake to its original glory. Admiral Dawson had sought the help of the Navy to undertake a hydrographic survey of the lake in June 1993 and a check survey was conducted by the MEG in 1997. The documents were forwarded to the Bangalore City Corporation which, however, put them on thebackburner.

8220;It is poor water management that is to blame,8221; the documents said. 8220;The old drains had a life span of 30 years. Now, they cannot withstand the pressure of urbanisation and burst open. The project to save the lake will involve a thorough study of the existing storm-water drains and leakages, dredging of the lake and desilting, creating check dams upstream, preventing discharge of effluents and introducing gates at the existing weir which can be lowered in order to drain out the initial flow of water and not allow it to settle down, or designing sluices at deep bed level to flush out silt. We have thought of alternative areas for dumping silt and recycling hyacinth and residue as manure.8221; Few are aware that two springs exist at the bottom of the lake. But to get to them, one has to clear silt accumulated over the years across the 100 acres of water. Estimated to cost about Rs 6 to 7 crore, the project to save the lake will take two years to complete after a detailed pre-investment study iscarried out.

The Admiral added that the Navy could extend help in this venture and water management expertise from Holland could be called upon. 8220;We only want to educate the masses and put pressure on the authorities to act. After all, that is their job,8221; he says.

With feelers sent out to 150 groups, 20 schools and environmentalists, the campaign hopes to restore Ulsoor Lake to what it was 8212; a clean lake dotted with islands, a lake once famous for its MEG regatta nights and boating over tranquil waters. And in the not so distant future, perhaps, include water sports, wind surfing and an aquarium for aqua culture and fishing. For now, it8217;s Saturday8217;s human chain that the Ulsoor Lake Foundation wants to make a success.