Hundreds of protesters, including schoolchildren, formed a human chain on the ECC road with an appeal to protect the Pattandur Agrahara Lake and condemning the government’s apathy.
Sunday’s protest was held mainly to highlight the incompetence of the relevant agencies to stop private builders from illegally occupying the lake and saving it from imminent destruction.
Attended by citizens of all ages from Sunday morning, protestors held placards with pithy messages and bellowing of slogans against the authorities’ failure to protect the lake. Residents complained that civic officials turned a deaf ear to their repeated requests to rejuvenate the lake.
“The lake has been encroached on for the past 20 years. Debris and garbage are dumped regularly. We’re demanding the Chief Minister to set up a High Power Committee or a Judicial inquiry to probe the lapses and take steps to save the lake,” said Sandeep Anirudhan, Member of the Pattandur Agrahara RWA Federation.
Adugodi ward Corporator, Muniswamy, who also joined the protest, alleged that influential people are vying to grab the land. “Officials and politicians involved in the lake encroachment are trying to usurp the property,” he said.
On April 13, the High Court of Karnataka issued notices to BBMP, BDA, Lake Development Authority and the state government seeking action to clear the encroachment on the Pattandur Agrahara Lake, located in Kadugodi in Whitefield, east Bengaluru.