Bengaluru District incharge Minister Ramalinga Reddy and MP Rajeev Chandrashekar visited the Mestripalya Lake on Friday morning to find out for themselves why the progress of the work is so slow.
The Mestripalya Lake Citizens’ Committee explained to them that the BDA has not been effective in pressurising the contractor to complete the job. Executive Engineer of BDA, Baig assured them that they would complete all the works by May. MP Rajeev Chandrashekar said that he will inspect the work on weekly basis. Minister Ramalinga Reddy, MP Rajeev Chandrashekar, committee members, residents and officials walked up to the lake weir to inspect the works. There they were briefed about the encroachment.
8 cr more for development of lake
Speaking on the occasion, the minister Ramalinga Reddy said that further Rs 8 crore has been allocated for various works associated with the lake. These works will be taken up once the lake is formally inaugurated soon, he said.
Ajay Reddy, Chairman, Mestripalya Lake Citizens’ Committee briefed that Minister Ramalinga Reddy and MP Rajeev Chandrashekar about the progress of the lake work. Members then listed six items which needed to be finished before the rains start: Lake bed cleaning, revetment of the three islands, completion of weir construction, completion of bund revetment, completion of the sewage diversion work and removal of encroachment down the stream.
When one of the original petioners Vishwanath Kashyap was asked, he said that this lake should have taken no more than six months to complete but already 18 months have elapsed.
At every stage this citizens’ group of people have been involved in monitoring the progress of lake work. We are very keen that all the inlets are ready to receive the rain water and lake work is completed before the monsoon arrives, he added.
Koramangala Ward President Govardhan Reddy, Block Congress President Chamaraj Reddy, Radhakrishna, Residents & Lake committee members – Ashok Reddy, Nitin Seshadri, Dr Radhakrishna, Ramesh Sivaram and others were present.
The 11 acre Mestripalya lake bed situated in Koramangala is being restored by the BDA and Lake Development Authority and BBMP in association with local residents. Mestripalya lake is a symbol of citizen action which reclaimed the lake bed from encroachers and subsequent victory over vested interests and land sharks. Thanks to the efforts of the citizens and the authorities, the lake which was on the verge of being encroached by land sharks was protected after a long legal battle, is now getting a new lease of life and being restored to its original condition.
Once restored, the lake will become a source for water, raise the ground water table significantly, will encourage environment habitation besides being a pleasure for citizens especially senior citizens and children.