Another Ulsoor Lake in the making?

CHITRABHANU R.K.

Energy CES Envis IISc

BANGALORE: It's the same old story. All the hype and hoopla surrounding the Madivala Lake rejuvenation project has fizzled out. Residents had taken the authority's word that the lake would be revived by April 2001. Now, the Forest Department is seeking more time __ May 2002, they say. But what remains is a fenced lake with clogged sewage channels and mounds of garbage.

The Forest Department had entrusted the project to the Karnataka Land Army Corporation Limited (KLAC) two years ago.

The latter, with help from the Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme (INEP), were to revive the lake at a cost of Rs 6 crore. "Over Rs 4.5 crore has already gone into it and efforts are still on," say the authorities. Says Deputy Conservator of Forests (Urban) Vijay Kumar Gogi, "Desilting has just been carried out successfully and a wetland has been built. This will avoid silting of water in the lake. Fencing has been carried out over 7 km and a diversion canal made for water purification."

"Once the sewage problem is solved, the lake will improve," says former KLAC deputy director Marigowda. Residents, however, are fed up. "The people of the locality had formed an organisation to take the project along, but gave up due to the callous attitude of the government. They have even discontinued the boating facility," BTM Layout resident Abdul Razzaq said.

"Things had slowed down due to lack of funds. But we have made some headway in this regard as we have built a waste `weir' to maintain the water level. Sewage had been a problem in the lake. But a sewage plant and two water inlets have been built by the BWSSB," Gogi said.

Now, here's the assurance, once again. "The children's park will be expanded and a cosmetic look given soon. We will have a jetty to resume boating again. De-weeding will be done and hydrologists consulted for gauging sewage.'' Whether the new action plan will work, only time will tell.