Hebbal Lake wall broken, risk to walkers

By Y Maheswara Reddy | NT

Bengaluru: People who walk past Hebbal Lake must do so with caution, or they might find themselves in the water. A section of the retaining wall on the eastern side of the water body has collapsed, posing a significant danger to unwary pedestrians. It’s been this way for a while – the footpath was developed a few months ago but nothing has been done to strengthen the retaining wall.

“BBMP authorities are simply not bothered about people’s safety,” says Sanjeev Dyammanavar, a social activist. “To make matters worse, they have allowed advertising agencies to put up hoardings along the flyover, which are visible to people walking along the broken retaining wall and could easily distract them.”

Krishnaswamy N., a Hebbal resident, pedestrians struggle on that footpath because apart from all its other perils, there are no streetlights either. “The footpath is narrow and the place is dark,” he says. “Thousands of BMTC commuters use it, too, as they cross the road to board BMTC buses.

The problem has fallen, as it has before, on the shoulders of the fishermen’s community near Hebbal Lake. One fisherman, Lourduswamy, told News Trail that he has attempted to restore the fence that had been damaged, resulting in the collapse of the retaining wall. “I have informed a representative of East India Hotels Limited (Oberoi Group) about the collapse of the retaining wall,” he said. The East India Hotels Group, in 2006, had bagged a contract from the Lake Development Authority to develop Hebbal Lake. When informed, however, Anil, of the Oberoi Group, has said that the company has nothing to do with the retaining wall and Lourduswamy was told to inform the Forest Department, which he did. “I want authorities to fix it as soon as they can to prevent accidents,” he said.

Deputy Range Forest Officer Shivaraju S., said that he had informed his higher authorities about the matter. “I have sent a proposal to replace the damaged fence and construct the portion of the retaining wall that has collapsed,’’ said Shivaraju. He also said that he deputed forest staff from other places to stand guard at Hebbal Lake. “The lake is under our control but no manpower has been sanctioned. As of now, I have four forest guards to watch over it.”

It isn’t the first time Hebbal Lake has found itself in the news for the wrong reasons. Last year, it was filled with water hyacinth. Authorities turned a blind eye to the menace, however. In the end, fishermen took it upon themselves a few months ago to clear the weeds.