Plastic bottles and other waste dumped on the Sarakki Lake bed. - Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.
The lakes are not dead yet, but if the lakebeds continue to be a dumping ground and the ignorance of forest authorities endures, the unauthorised levelling of the two lakes could happen fast. If the Sarakki Lake is being filled with debris from the demolished buildings and all kinds of wastes, the Puttenahalli Lake is being filled with loads of granite waste from the granite factories located nearby.
According to one estimate, the Sarakki Lake is getting over 100 tonnes of debris from the buildings demolished or those under construction. In addition, loads of garbage from Puttenahalli -- some neatly packed in huge plastic bags and some uncovered - are finding their way to the lake. And people also use the place as an open toilet. Bottles from bars and liquor stores, wastes from hotels such as feathers and chicken bone, and the leftovers are also dumped. One could count the number of dead cattle in the nearby areas for the carcasses end up here.
K.N.Purushotham Raju, well known in the area as Babu, has been fighting a lone battle for the survival of the lake. He has stopped many people from dumping waste. "Is the lake yours?" is the question often put to him. His efforts to create awareness are not taken positively. The huge lake needs an organised effort to survive. Umesh, an Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Lake Development Authority, says that the Sarakki Lake is being taken up for restoration at a cost of Rs. 3.09 crore. Tenders had been called and it might be awarded to the lowest bidder soon. The files were being forwarded to the Union Government. The smaller Puttenahalli Lake too is being proposed for restoration, Mr. Umesh says. There is, however, no immediate help round the corner. Mr. Umesh said that there was no financial allocation for the authority to appoint watch and ward staff for the lakes in the City.
Taking advantage of this, people were dumping the debris and waste into them. The best solution was to constitute a people's committee to protect the lakes.
