BANGALORE: Spread over hundred acres of land in the BTM Layout is the Madiwala lake in all its glory. But as it deteriorates day by day, residents are saddened by the fact that few years down the line, it would not be there anymore.The lake is maintained by the Central Forest Department. The expanse of the lake also provides for the boating facilities in the lake. A children’s park is an addition. With several schools and colleges situated in proximity of the park, it draws it’s fair share of visitors. Kumar, a resident, remarked, “It was a very popular spot for youngsters and elders many years ago. It carried with it a sense of peace, making it a very relaxing place.” Once upon a time, it was also seen as a spot for migratory birds. But the decline began with the disposal of garbage and redirection of sewage of the residential areas into the lake. The surface of the lake is barely visible owing to the weeds and garbage that has been thrown into the lake. The algae that is flourishing in the lake has been proved to restrict the existence of several other organisms. The main cause of this is the presence of excess nitrogen and phosphorus. The waste and the sewage that is being dumped in the lake is also the primary source for producing these chemicals.While the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike has begun works in the lake for the improvement of the park, they have also been instructed by the Lake Development Authorities to restore the Storm Water Drain in the region. As the drain is blocked, rain water cannot flow into the lake. Smriti, another resident, said, “I love boating. But with half of the lake under development work, there isn’t much for boating left. While the remaining part is still fun to boat in. It’s the other part that I dread.” The stagnant water emanates a stench that is hard to bare.Raja, a visitor, said, “The maintenance of the lake by the authorities is very poor. On the pretext of work, several areas have been dug up. The work has not been completed despite it being a few weeks since the digging and other repairs began. The authorities say that the lack of funds is what is preventing them from completing the work.” Ganesh is the range forest officer for the locality. He said, “The government has taken certain measures to avoid pollution around the lake. Certain steps such as the appointment of life guards in case of accidents during activities like boating have been taken to ensure safety.” Regarding the works he informed City Express that a proposal had been submitted to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) regarding the development of the park and the lake. He further added that the work would be completed soon.When quizzed about the sewage hassle of the lake, PC Kumar, executive engineer of Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), said, “Four Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD)’s of water is recycled every time. We have now re-diverted the sewage to another area. Previously, the sewage of the Silk Board area was averted into the lake.” The residents say that they have noticed the BWSSB cleaning the lake. However, the process takes place only once in a blue moon.When contacted the chief operating officer for Lake Development Authority, Sai Baba, said, “I am aware of the problems pertaining to the lake. I know that sewage flows into it. I have given the BWSSB a week's time to inspect and examine the problem and revert to me.” He further added that the BWSSB is not the only one to blame when it comes to the Madiwala Lake. He said that the BBMP is also at fault. Water from the SWD is supposed to drain into the lake. “However, that is not happening at the moment. The water from the drains is unable to flow into the lake. The BBMP has been told to mend the problem and ensure that the water from the SWDs flow into the lake,” he added.
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