Hoodi lake bund caves in, Rs 2.5cr down the drain

By Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: The Hoodi lake in the city was rejuvenated just months ago at a massive cost of `2.5 crore but now, the project has gone waste with the lake bund caving in during the recent rains, thanks to the negligence of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) lake department engineers.

“We struggled a lot to convince BMBP to allocate funds for the rejuvenation. But when I visited the lake a few days ago. I was shocked to see the bund-cum-pathway wrecked. I want BBMP to fi x the problem as early as possible,’’ said Balaji Raghotham, a lake activist.

People who visit the lake for a walk, have to be cautious now while walking on the bund. Eshwarappa of Bangalore Eco Group blamed BBMP engineers for not making sure the construction of the bund met the required standards.

A visit to Hoodi Lake will suffice to have an idea about the efficiency of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Lake Department engineers. The lake was rejuvenated a few months ago at an estimated cost of Rs 2.50crore. However, now its bund has caved in due to the recent heavy rain.

Balaji Raghotham, a lake activist said, “We have struggled a lot to convince the BMBP authorities to allocate funds for the rejuvenation of Hoodi Lake. I visited the lake a few days ago. I was shocked to see the bund-cum-pathway in shambles. I want the BBMP Lakes Department engineers to fix the problem as early as possible.” The people who visit Hoodi lake for a walk in the morning and in the evening have to be cautious while walking on the bund. “I have seen many people finding it difficult to walk on the lake bund,’’ he added.

Eshwarappa of Bangalore Eco Group says, “It is nothing but negligence of the BBMP engineers. I am of the opinion that BBMP engineers have constructed the lake bund unscientifically. It has become a habit for the BBMP engineers to develop a walkway on the lake bund. I want them to give importance to strengthening the capacity of the water body.” The concrete pipes remain exposed due to heavy rains and are visible, while the lake bund developed a huge crack thus posing danger not only to the water body, but also to the visitors.

Coming down heavily on the BBMP engineers for sub-standard work, Friends of Lakes Co-founder V Ramprasad has opined that the BBMP engineers did not bother to ensure quality in the bund construction work. “The BBMP authorities must ensure that the contractor fixes the problem without paying any amount to him. If the bill amount is still pending, the BBMP authorities should deduct the amount required to fix the lake bund issue from the total amount to be paid to the contractor,’’ Ramprasad said.

Meanwhile, BBMP (Lakes) Executive Engineer Ravi has said the soil on concrete pipes, meant for waste weir eroded due to heavy rain. “I will visit Hoodi Lake on Monday. The restoration of the lake bund will begin soon,’’ the BBMP executive engineer claimed.