One of the oldest water bodies of namma city is vanishing little by little! Hosakerehalli Lake, which was once a pristine water body, now reeks of garbage and a foul odour. It was also a biodiversity hotspot attracting myriad migratory species of birds. And when the sun would rise and set, the water body would sparkle in all its glory, attracting tourists and nearby residents in abundance. But now, the foul smell and the garbage dumps drive people away!
What happened to it?
Spread across 59.26 acres, the then pristine lake is now choking and has become nearly non-existent. It has been turned into a dumping yard that cradles reeking sewage and litter. The vast banks are filled with litter and its bosom is covered with hyacinth. With so much toxic material in the lake, the fumes around it are very polluted, posing a threat not just to the environment but also the health of those in close proximity.
Jhatkaa.org’s role in rejuvenating the lake
In an attempt to change this, an active group of residents called ‘Citizens for Hosakerehalli Lake’ and Jhatkaa.org organized a string of clean-up drives between October 2021 and October 2022. These cleanups also involved collaborations with other organizations like Indian ploggers army, Unicorn art club, and Global Academy of Technology. The drives had officials from the BBMP as well as volunteers in attendance.
To bring further attention to the issue, the Citizens of Hosakerehalli Lake group and Jhatkaa.org also highlighted the problems arising due to the polluted lake with the Zonal Commissioner during a ward committee meeting in September 2022.
Taking this into account, in March 2023, the BBMP began the restoration process of the lake in the Kerekodi area, Rajarajeshwari Nagar. However, the work came to a grinding halt in May with the monsoon season and hasn’t resumed ever since.
Most recently, on the 2nd of April, 2024, Citizens along with Jhatkaa.org met the Special Commissioner, Lakes Department at BBMP office regarding the rejuvenation of the lake. Mrs Preeti Gehlot was forthcoming and heard citizens’ demands patiently. She stated that they would look into the matter as soon as possible.
