BENGALURU: It is celebration
time for residents of Iblur, as after a five-year wait, the Bruhat
Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has finally conducted a lake
encroachment drive. Members of Iblur Lake Trust, a citizen group, have
been fighting for the cause. 

“This was long due but it’s a good sign.
There are pockets around the lake which need to be cleared as well, but
this is a good start to develop and improve entire Iblur area,” says
Kashinath Prabhu, a resident of the area.

Naresh Sadasivan of the Trust expressed
relief on work finally getting done. “Yes, it’s been going on for five
years. The only thing is that some court cases on encroachments are
pending,” he told TNIE. Three court cases are still pending, with two of
them going on for the past five years. Citizens also blame the revenue
department, as their lawyers have not been appearing for hearings
regularly, further prolonging the case.

“Phase 1 of the lake, which is
rejuvenation, is complete. Phase 2 involves fencing the lake and
installing a mini sewage treatment plant, a kalyani, and development of
the park inside the lake,” Naresh explained. While Rs 1.5 crore was
allotted for the lake, new funds are yet to come in. For now, BBMP might
bring in the Iblur road development project along with the lake, to
manage its funds.

According to BBMP Commissioner B H
Anilkumar, the corporation is committed to the NGT and the
Legislative Committee to remove lake encroachments.