Ulsoor Lake crying for attention

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, APRIL 14. The Ulsoor Lake, which is the largest water body in the City, has had its ups and downs. It has seen more downs since the days the neighbourhood around it was called ``Hulsoor''.

A large section of the lake around the Kensington Swimming Pool side is today choked with water hyacinth and other weeds. Though, the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) maintains a boat club, the weeds effectively bar entry to parts of the lake.

According to civic officials, the weeds thrive in the lake because of large-scale silting and accumulation of waste. Though attempts have been made to prevent sewage entering the lake, dumping of garbage by residents in the vicinity is said to be continuing. However, they pay the price as it has a become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

A wall and wire-mesh fencing were erected some years ago around the lake to prevent waste being thrown into it. The wall has been broken by anti-social elements in some places and no attempts have been made to repair it. Since old days, there have been steps leading down the lake in some places around Annaswamy Mudaliar Road. While none would dare to bathe in the lake anymore, after every Ganesh festival, hundreds of ``devotees'' ceremonially immerse idols made of plaster and clay in it. Flower garlands, plantain stalks and tinsel decorations are also immersed along with the idols. These ``divine offerings'' add to the pollution burden of the lake.

In the early Nineties, the Rotarians joined the civic authorities in cleaning up the lake and succeeded to a large extent in restoring its old glory. The armed forces who control part of the lake, keep their portion clean enough. It is now up to the envirnonmentalists to carry out a practical campaign to clean the lake and free it of effluents and weeds.

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Section  : Southern States
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