Bengaluru, 21 May

Begur Lake, a haven for exotic birds and a source of serenity for residents, has become a victim of neglect and pollution for the past six years. The 137-acre lake—which once teemed with coots, grebes, egrets, and herons— is now a garbage dumping ground, leaving residents and environmentalists fuming.

For over a decade, Begur residents such as Ravi, an IT professional, cherished the morning view and the symphony of birdsong at the lake.  "It was a perfect start to the day," Ravi told Salar News, adding, “But now, the lake is choked with garbage, a reminder of the consequences of rapid urbanisation and encroachment.

Diya, a 20-year-old student, reminisces about her grandmother's visits to the lake. "There were swans and so many birds," she said. "We used to enjoy the view for hours."

Despite years of complaints to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)—the city's civic body—the lake's revival remains elusive.

When Salar News reached out to BBMP Lake Department’s official, he said that the civic body is working on the lake's revival. “We are working on fencing, silt traps, and pathway development projects with a three-month completion timeframe,” he added.

In 2019, BBMP's decision to build an island and install a Shiva statue for tourism purposes backfired. Environmentalists saw it as a disregard for the lake's ecological health and filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in High Court.

High Court, in March 2021, termed the island and statue project "prima facie illegal." However, litigation regarding the statue's removal is ongoing.

However, the proposal to remove the Shiva statue has divided the community. While some residents view it as a religious symbol and a part of their heritage, others like Ajesh, a resident, believe environmental protection is paramount. "We understand the importance of protecting the lake, but there has to be a way to save both the statue and the environment," Ajesh told Salar News.

BBMP has held public consultations to address these concerns.

"Our goal is to restore Begur Lake while respecting the community's cultural sentiments," said a municipal office employee. "The relocation of the statue is a step towards achieving that balance."

Begur Lake is just one among Bengaluru's many ailing water bodies. With summer's harsh grip, nearly 50 of Bengaluru Rural's 184 lakes have dried up, and 25 more are on the verge of collapse. Bellandur Lake and Sankey Tank have also suffered immensely due to pollution and untreated wastewater discharge.

Meanwhile, BBMP has sought Rs 67 crore from the State for the restoration of 69 lakes under. The civic body claims to have revived 63 lakes for Rs 345 crore between 2019 and 2022. -Salar News