Have no words to describe this sad transformation. Pic: Praveen Singh
The following post was shared by Praveen Singh, a runner.
I decided on a whim one fine April morning in 1989 to visit Bellandur lake and I clicked a full Konica roll worth of pictures. I used to live in Indira Nagar and had visited the lake and surroundings for its beauty and also to watch aircraft land and takeoff from nearby runway. Here are some of the photographs.
Last week, I took some time off over the weekend to do a “Then and Now” series of photo captures from almost the same spots I had clicked from over 28 years ago.
The images speak for themselves.
Needless to say, I was dismayed and felt hopeless on seeing the present scenario. What remains of the lake is in a terrible state. The water is putrid, the stench, unbearable. The surrounding lands have become landfills and there was senseless construction activity.
Development and progress doesn’t mean the permanent destruction of fragile ecosystems. Whoever are the powers that be for this region – they don’t give a damn, are extremely shortsighted and I’m sure busy making a quick buck.
This lovely Raintree has stood the test of time. If only it could speak, we would be wiser. Pic: Praveen Singh
An idyllic lake then, now a weed filled cesspool. Pic: Praveen Singh
Pic: Praveen Singh
The lovely grasslands on the other side of the lake are gone forever. Now filled with debris from far off lands,over which towering buildings are rearing their head. Pic: Praveen Singh
Pic: Praveen Singh
Pic: Praveen Singh
Have no words to describe this sad transformation. Pic: Praveen Singh
I’m happy that multiple citizen groups are rising up to highlight the ‘boiling frog’ situation in Bangalore. Lakes are the lifeline of Bangalore, but a total mismanagement of real estate growth without the required planning on infrastructure, water and waste management has been a disaster. I hope such citizen initiatives sustain and quash every move against the city of lakes.
It has been about three months since an update on the status of Iblur lake rejuvenation was shared. So here is one. As the picture suggests, there is water! That is a great news indeed. It is far from full, but to get to this point required a fair bit of work. Copious rains over the lake body were not enough. We had to find ways to clean up inlets of roadside drains that could feed the lake. We now have 4 such inlets and we will add a couple more once the current roadworks are complete. Here are some…
The fifth edition of the habba is the most talked about community event in the neighbourhood of ORR-Sarjapur Road. Kere Habba or Lake Festival is an annual day long conservation-focused celebration of the gorgeous Kaikondrahalli lake, planned this time on February 17. 2019. It is an amalgamation of music, theatre, fitness, art, design and fun - all talking the same idiom of ecology and environment. Some of the most prominent names in the world of conservation, ecology and science conduct pro bono sessions to raise funds to support and maintain this lake. Their sessions are jam-packed and draw huge crowds. One of…
I’m happy that multiple citizen groups are rising up to highlight the ‘boiling frog’ situation in Bangalore. Lakes are the lifeline of Bangalore, but a total mismanagement of real estate growth without the required planning on infrastructure, water and waste management has been a disaster. I hope such citizen initiatives sustain and quash every move against the city of lakes.