Vibhutipura Lake gets a fresh lease of life

Vibhutipura Lake, in LB Shastri Nagar, near HAL Airport, which was full of water hyacinth, is springing back to life thanks to efforts of local citizens and like-minded volunteers.

According to Vibhutipura Kere Abhivruddhi Mattu Samrakshane Samiti (Vikas) member Shubha Priya: “The smell from the lake was choking us, as sewage water used to enter the lake. Also, it was filled with debris and weeds. Vikas was formed in December 2012 to save the 40-acre lake.” 

Their efforts paid off when the State government entrusted the work of developing the lake to Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

BDA Engineer Ashok Hinda said the work, began on February 3, 2013 and formation of islands, bund, walking track, rainwater channels and de-weeding work have been completed. 

Currently, silt trap and inner fencing work is on. The total cost of the project is Rs 2.75 crore. It will take another two months to complete. 

The lake coming under the purview of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) was contaminated due to sewage water inflow. 

Vikas Trustee Sudhir Revankar said, “We spoke to Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials to take up sewage diversion, which they are doing.”

“We have also managed to convince residents to put up Underground Drainage (UGD) connection. The next agenda is to get the lake beautified with tree plantation, outer fencing among others,” said Shubha Priya. 

Encroachment 

Residents maintain that the lake was originally 49.45 acres and has shrunk to 40 acres due to encroachment. 

Hemachandra P, a resident, said land sharks systematically dumped debris on the ‘rajakaluvas’. In 2011, LBS Nagar Residents Welfare Association’ brought the matter of encroachment to the notice of the tahasildar and various RTI applications filed. 

But all went in vain 

The money spent on developing the lake without eviction of encroached government land and revival of ‘rajakaluva’ will be wasteful as feeding canals are encroached. Presently, builders have approached the court and got stay orders.