A tale of missing fish and dying lake

BANGALORE: Iblur Lake seems to have earned itself the dubious reputation of turning into a graveyard. Until a while ago, the lake was in the limelight because of the number of fish that died and the negative effect it had on the income of fishermen who depended on them for their livelyhood. But now, things have taken a drastic turn, as there are fishes in the lake.HSR Layout corporator K Latha, hassled by the condition of the lake in recent times, blamed urbanisation as the core reason for the death of flora and fauna in the lake. “Until last three years, there were no problems. But ever since the area saw the light of development, things have going from bad to worse. Sewage from a number of apartments flows directly into the lake. I have tried blocking the sewage outlet a number of times, but the private building owners unclog the sewage blocks at night,” she said. Dirty water from the sewage outlets gushes out in large volume thereby polluting the lake and cutting oxygen supply for the fish. The recent festivities of Deepavali were the last nail in the coffin, as the last fish breathed its last.Narayanappa K, the fishing contractor said, “I have suffered loses that amount to over Rs 70,000 due to the death of these fish. Sewage from Bellanduru Gate, Haralur Road and from the main road flows into the lake. Something needs to be done to sort out this issue. They need to re-divert the sewage water immediately. I have even written to the commissioner regarding the matter. He said that he would visit the lake. I am still waiting for his long pending visit,” he said. Before catastrophe descended on the aquatic life in the lake, there were four varieties of fish that were found in it — common carp, Katla, Rohu and Jilebi.Speaking further on the matter at hand, the corporator said that she had brought the topic up during the last council meeting that was held at the end of the month. “The BBMP commissioner had said that he would visit the lake and would give his decision after the inspection,” she informed. According to the corporator, he has cancelled his visit twice. “He said he would come on November 2, and then rescheduled the inspection for Sunday, November 6. If he does not come before the next council meeting, I will bring up the matter again in the next meeting,” she informed. Latha explained that without the commissioner’s visit and sanction for funds, she can not proceed with the maintenance and development of the lake. Till now no fixed amount has been allocated for the lake. BBMP commissioner, Sidaiah was unavailable to comment on his inspection of the lake. “The area has a perpetual foul smell. It is disgusting to even step anywhere close to the lake,” said Shiny, a resident of one of the apartments near outer ring road. Stating the reason for the massacre, Latha said that the pollution content tests that were conducted last year verified that the cause for the death was the sewage water which was being let into the lake without passing through the treatment plant. While the corporator has elaborate plans for the development of the lake, everything has come to a stand still owing to the present circumstance.