After repeated complaints to the authorities about the deteriorating condition of the Benganahalli lake, residents take on task themselves rather than wait for palike to act
After repeated complaints to the authorities about the deteriorating condition of the Benganahalli lake, residents take on task themselves rather than wait for palike to actAs if to shame the BBMP, residents of Benganahalli took matters into their own hands and initiated a clean-up drive of the lake. Residents claim that repeated complaints regarding the state of the lake have fallen on deaf ears and thereby the decision to put the elected representatives and the palike to shame arose.
"We have been complaining for months about the deteriorating condition of this once pristine lake, which is spread across about 30 acres. We just wanted the authorities to de-weed the lake," claimed an unnamed resident.
Residents claim that they were frustrated with the palike's lack of concern for their requests and went ahead with the drive with what little resources they had. "We wanted to restore the glory of this lake and eventually realised that if we waited for the authorities to do something, nothing was going to happen," said Sharada Pai, activist and resident of Benganahalli.
MLA sheepish?Feigning ignorance on the matter, local MLA Nandeesh Reddy was rather amused to hear about the task embarked upon by the local residents. He arrived at the spot shortly after hearing the news and denied knowing about the state of the lake, of which 90 per cent was overgrown with weeds and raw sewerage inlets pockmarked the lake-bank.
The upcoming elections, with all probability in the back of his mind, he made an announcement to lay down new drainage pipes in his constituency. "We are following protocol and will first consider putting in drainage lines and then work on cleaning the lake. We do not know whether the lake belongs to the Lake Development Authority, BBMP or the BDA. I have asked my officials to file a report on this," said Reddy.
