Bengaluru was once called as the city of Thousand Lakes. Can you believe it? Today, the situation has become so worse that even in an imagination, 1000 lakes is a subject of fantasy. All hail to Urbanisation, the lakes which were the source of life were forfeited and padlocked to curtains. What was the need indeed? When we look back and think about the need for which these lakes were closed, it looks silly. We could have saved the lakes and we could have avoided the recent devastation of life in the city. Well, with a hefty heart, we have compiled the list of few Bengaluru lakes which were forfeited to satisfy the Urban needs of the city. Please check it out and spread the word.
Encroachment of Bengaluru Lakes
Some Statistics:
- The city once had 280-285 lakes of which 7 are reduced to small pools, and 18 have been unauthorizedly encroached by slum and private parties.
- 14 have dried up and are leased out by Government and 28 lakes have been used by BDA to distribute sites and extensions for residential areas.
- Now, only 17 lakes exist as against 15 healthy lakes in 1985. It is reported that the water bodies of the city are reduced from 3.40 % in 1973 to just about 1.47 % in 2005.
- The adverse results of the encroachment of lakes have made the way to flooding, micro-climatic changes, a decrease in the number of migratory birds, and prolonged devastation of life in the city.
21 Bengaluru Lakes Then and Now
Challaghatta Lake is closed to build National Gulf Association
Koramangala Lake changed to National Games complex in Eijipura
Nagashettihalli Lake is now the Space Department
Kadugondanahalli is closed to build Ambedkar Medical College
Kurubarahalli lake changed to Residential Layout
Kamakshipalya Lake is forfeited to make a Sports ground
Dasarahalli Tank is converted into Dr. B.R Ambedkar Stadium
Geddalahalli Lake is now RMV 2nd stage, 1st Block
Sunkel Tank is KSRTC Regional workshop
Kodihalli Lake is closed for New Tippasandra Government Buildings
Hennur Lake is converted into Nagavara (HBR Layout)
Banaswadi Lake to Subbayyapalya Extension
Channasandra Lake is now Pulla Reddy Layout
Mestripalya Lake is Mestripalya Open Ground
Ram Shetty Palya Kere to Milk Colony Playground
Agasana Lake is closed to make Gayathri Devi Park
Gangashetty Lake is now Minerva Mills and Open Ground
Jakraya Lake to Krishna flour mills
Dharmambudhi Lake is now Kempegowda Bus Terminal
Sampangi Lake has become Kanteerava Stadium
Akkittimmanahalli is today’s Sai Hockey Stadium
The list goes on and on. These were a few Bengaluru lakes which were forfeited to satisfy the urban needs. Just look at the list and think about the importance of Lakes v/s these Urban amenities.
(Source of Information is Wikipedia and TOI. Images used are just for representation)
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