Lake breach at lake in the city - Daily News & Analysis

DNA - Bangalore - Lake breach at lake in the city - Daily News & Analysis

A lake breach at Begur Lake has rendered homes in east Bangalore flooded. Residents of Bommanahalli constituency say that inadequate civic facility is the cause of the breach.

To add to their woes, filthy water from storm drains has also entered homes. Children have been unable to attend school and others go for work.

But BBMP Joint Commisisoner Bommanahalli Zone B S Shekharappa denies any lake breach. "No bund wall has been broken. The water entering houses is the overflowing water from the lake mixed with the water from the storm drain.

Diseases spread by rodents and mosquitoes have put the population at a health risk. Furthermore there is no provision for water supply. ``We are forced to buy water, as the ground water is highly contaminated and children are prone to illness. The bad roads and over flowing drains are making matters worse. Moreover the BBMP is digging up the main road,'' said Lakshmi Prakas, a resident of Vishwapriya Layout, located 2 kms from Begur lake.

"My three year old son accidentally fell into the dirty water and we found it very difficult to bring him out at night", cried B H Sumitra a housewife. ``My elder son is hurt and my younger son has high fever. The owner stays in Girinagar and we moved in here as tenants three months ago as my husband works in Electronic City. We are now thinking of moving."

Unlike this couple, many cannot move as they have spent their savings to build a home here. Infosys Chief mentor N R Narayanmurthy's retired driver K Anand said, ``I put in all my savings and built the house. The situation is the same since the past five years. Every year officials come and make a lot of promises that are never fulfilled.''

Shekharappa says that the urgent needs of the people are being met. ``We are providing immediate relief- food, bottled water and blankets. Rehabilitation centres and accommodation is being provided at Vidya Jyothi government school, Hongesandra government school and Lui Philip Church,'' said Shekharappa.

Shekharappa says that the flooded houses are built on unauthorised layouts in revenue pockets, which were earlier agricultural land. The civic agency has floated tenders to build, after four years of grim situation, a storm water drain. Over the years, the 33-foot storm water drain has been encroached and now it measures only eight feet. "All encroached properties will soon be cleared,'' said he.