Bengaluru: Facing heat from local residents for constructing a 25 feet wide mud road on Hosakerehalli lake located in Rajarajeshwari nagar, civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Thursday said that it would remove the road within 20 days.
During his visit to the lake BBMP special commissioner (project) Ravindra PN said, “I had no knowledge of the formation of a road on the lake. The directions were issued to construct a sewage diversion drain so that the water body does not receive the untreated sewage. There were no directions issued to construct the pathway. The residents complained about the construction of the road hence we are visiting the lake today. A retaining wall around the lake will also be constructed. I have instructed the engineers to remove the mud from the lake.”
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Local residents alleged that a permanent road is being constructed on the lake to facilitate access to a luxurious apartment in the vicinity.
BBMP chief engineer (lakes), Vijay Kumar Haridas said, “The road was temporary in nature and built to only facilitate movement of vehicles which would be deployed to rejuvenate the lake. There were no plans of constructing a permanent road to facilitate access to any apartment.”
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BBMP sources that Rs 10 crore has been allocated for the restoration of the lake. While it mandatory to take approval from Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA) for carrying out developmental activities on the lake, in this case no such permission was sought.
Wildlife activist Joseph Hoover who raised alarm over the project said, “Money was spent to fill up the lake and money will be spent to have it removed. This is a waste of public money. However, we are happy that the lake will be saved. Dividing the lake into two halves with a road in between would destroy the ecology.”
