Fwd: Somasundarapalya Lake hiSTORY

[Balasubramanian Thirunavukkarasu]

Forwarding this as a FYI - it is just a hint on how we can save lakes from encroachment & revive them. You may end up finding a different path in your experience , please update & share yours that will help others who are new to this group.

There are many stalwarts here in the group like Ms. Usha Rajagopalan , who guides us & many to do this task.
Somasundara palya lake, was the one we were working on & it got revived (it is a part of HSR's agara lake, much of it was encroached by BDA to create HSR layout : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HSR_Layout see Location section)

Thanks

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Balasubramanian Thirunavukkarasu <bath...@gmail.com>
Date: Fri, Jan 31, 2014 at 2:36 PM
Subject: Somasundarapalya Lake hiSTORY

Hi ,

I am briefly sharing the history of our lake to know what went so on. Please help , guide us in getting this lake protected & revived.

1. I discovered Somasundarapalya lake  around 2011

I didnt know that i can engage and help in reviving the lake.(I was not aware there is a authority managing it & how to get in touch with them.)

2. Found BDA is the lake agency responsible for Haralukunte Kere/Somasundarapalya lake (around 2012)

* Through the social awareness & participation in different programs ,  came to know that this & other public space management can be better done by 'citizen participation' with government systems

* we met with activists from Kaikondrahalli lake team who guided me how to go ?

* Then we contacted different people got the number of BBMP & BDA officials incharge , called & spoke to them . 

Met them in their office and found this lake comes under BDA. We were informed the Executive Engineer Incharge is Somesh

3. Progress : Struck on complaints & nothing more...

* After many meeting we managed to get a board near the lake warning tresspassers against lake. they also shared some document pertaining to lake

* We complained to BDA regarding dumping several times

* BDA complained to Tahsildar & HSR Police regarding issues we reported to them. But Tahsildar office & HSR Police didnt take required action

* We then raised the issue with BMTF office , they filed complaint & forwarded to Tahsildar office to take action

(those documents are available in link : http://goo.gl/uSmkop )

End Result till date:

a. Tahsildar office is taking no interest & didnt make any visible progress till date.

b. HSR Police didnt take any action on evaders.

Since above authorites are silent , It is encouraging land mafia to close down the lake. The current status of lake is whole & solely due to the above authorities & their lack of action.

4.  Somasundarapalya Lake Walkathon on 7th October 2012

We found no improvements for the lake & day by day it is getting encroached inspite of our complaints to BDA , HSR Police .

To create awareness about this lake : we did a Walkathon on 7th October 2012 attended by MLA Satish Reddy , Tahsildar (South) Hari Shilpa, Mangammanapalya Corporator's Husband Saleem , Ashwin Mahesh (President, Loksatta party Karnataka) .

MLA Satishreddy & Tahsildar Hari shilpa gave promises that lake will revived very soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2QFkpnCo54

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3tfjgfT6Y3A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtFHFNlnCeY

5. We were waiting for them till date..We did about 5 cleanup drive to beautify the lake

Meanwhile dumping started vigorously on 29th Jan 2014

6. We got some directions now, we are taking up the issue with different authorities.

We had complained to 

a. Chief minister office & the have responded. (details below)

b. Mayor Katte Sathya & he responded : get me details on this, action will be taken for sure 

c. we have lodged another complaint in HSR police station on 30th jan 2014

d. We are going to take this case to Lokayukta & other authorities

7 latest encroachment attempt : http://goo.gl/hW8UPw (more than 50 lorries dumped mud from morning)

Following Vehicle(s) no :  were dumping & the photo shows it.

KA 05 AB 2726

KA 51B 2595

TN 23 AE 0640

KA 51 T 2112 

8. Problem to be addressed for our lake:

1. BDA & HSR Police should put a end to dumping to save the lake

2. Tahsildar should clear the encroachments

3. BDA should fence & revive the lake or handover the lake management to BBMP

response from CMO
On 29 January 2014 16:11, Chief Minister <chiefminister@karnataka.gov.in> wrote:
Dear Sir, 
Sri Indraneel has sent a mail regarding dumping the building debris in full swing at Somasundarapalya lake, HSR layout Sector-2, the same is herewith forwarded. You are requested to kindly look into the issue. The Person incharge may please be asked to keep the CMO posted on the action initiated with a copy marked to the sender.

Thanks and Regards,
Syed Khaja Mohiddin,
Special Officer to the Hon’ble Chief Minister,
Government of Karnataka.

Information Links about Somasundarapalya Lake/Haralukunte Kere:

1. Google map link to our Lake : http://goo.gl/maps/tDUrc

2. While dumping was happening as you can see from links:

http://goo.gl/KLf84A

http://goo.gl/CDWgHd

3. history of somasundarapalya lake (in google earth) : http://goo.gl/DCm44D

4. * Volunteers cleanup activity to do our something to clean the lake's surroudings

http://goo.gl/5WYM5F

http://goo.gl/GGvOXO

http://goo.gl/KeKrw4

video: http://goo.gl/bj5CvS

5. report about encroachment in media: http://bangalore.citizenmatters.in/articles/illegal-dumping-of-mud-at-somasundarapalya-lake-will-the-authorities-finally-intervene

Thanks,
Bala

[Access Info]

Mr Bala,

I am Professor K S Bhat Managing Trustee of Sarakki lake which you may be aware underwent similar agony before we group of citizens stepped in to save and rejuvenate it in 2012.The rest is history.Our entire journey is captured in print in a book '' Lake Rejuvenation under urban landscape'' case study of Sarakki..Dist Amazon.

This experience can be valuable guide for other lakes.

Somasundarapalya lake ,its history and decade long experience makes sad reading and all round failures including the citizen stake holders.

I urge you to go through our process and should you need help ,pls feel free to reach me.

Sadly,SBL is defunct now.

Best wishes

Professor K S Bhat

Mob 8073109569

On Thursday, 22 February, 2024 at 03:20:31 pm IST, Balasubramanian Thirunavukkarasu <bath...@gmail.com> wrote:

This message is eligible for Automatic Cleanup! (bath...@gmail.com) Add cleanup rule | More info

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Save Bangalore Lakes" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to SaveBangaloreLa...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/SaveBangaloreLakes/CAAau_8qtR3ZGfRDrq-KqThFDjdah4GoP7jnAGXH5iAuxsKyk2Q%40mail.gmail.com.