#UnitedBengaluru: Residents file police complaint against illegal dumping at Horamavu Agara lake

The residents of Horamavu Agara on Saturday took the issue of illegal dumping to authorities and formally filed a police complaint to protect the water body.

Earlier in the day, a citizens watchdog committee along with a team of experts consisting of Lake and Urban Experts, Members of Lake Groups, elected representatives and government officials visited the Horamavu Agara, Jayanthinagar (Horamavu small lake) and Challekere Lakes in the Yellamallappa Chetty Lake Series located in Mahadevapura Zone. 

The group, which is part of the #UnitedBengaluru initiative to ‘Reclaim and Protect our Lakes’, found that at Horamavu Agara lakes lot of waste is being dumped from tannery road during the night and has turned into a hub for a lot of illegal activities. 

Irked by the blatant violations, the citizen's group approached the police to ensure that the illegal dumping came to a stop. As per the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Order, dumping into lakes would attract a fine Rs 5 lakh for each violation. Swarit Agarwal, Member, Save Horamavu Lake, who gave a written complaint, said that the police urgently needs to intervene in the matter. 

“We are thankful to team United Bengaluru led by HS Doreswamy for visiting our lake. The debris thrown around the lake is a major concern and it needs to be fenced soon. The bad street lights are encouraging anti-social activities in the lake surroundings. Today we filed a complaint at Hennur Police Station against the encroachment and we have been assured by the officials that necessary action will be taken to protect the lake,” Agarwal said.

Even though the BBMP office is located mere 400 metres from the lake, the authorities have done little to nothing to stop it from turning into a "septic tank." Horamavu-Agara covers an area of 51 acres 34 guntas and is under the custody of the BBMP. The lake is in a deep state of neglect and needs attention. However, due to continued urbanisation, the lake has been subject to the dumping of debris, encroachment and inflow of sewage. A group of active citizens have been voluntarily cleaning up the lake, however, the neighbourhood around Horamavu lake lacks proper sanitation, which invariably results in raw sewage flowing into the Lake.

HS Doreswamy, Senior Freedom Fighter, who has been spearheading this fight for reclaiming the city lakes said that they are now giving the concerned authorities a one-month deadline.

“United Bengaluru is going to revisit next month and if there are no sign of development then #UnitedBengaluru will sit on a dharna. We are not against any MLA, MP or any Political Leader, we are working for the benefit of the citizen and I urge the citizen to come forward and complain about any violation in the lake. While the elected representatives have to protect the lakes as it's their priority” Doreswamy said.

Encouraged by the active participation of the general public, MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Founder Trustee, Namma Bengaluru Foundation said that the citizens should join hands to make the government accountable.

“I’m very happy to see more and more citizens and citizen groups coming together to work unitedly to protect and reclaim our city from vested interests and unitedly working to making govt officials and elected representatives accountable. Please report all who are violating the law and those who are not enforcing the law," MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar said.

Please report all who are violating the law and those who are not enforcing the law

"This kind of united citizen effort is the only way to protect Namma Bengaluru for future generations. I request all NGOs n citizens to work together because United we can succeed and Divided we will fail. I am proud and fully support the UnitedBengaluru citizens’ movement. For my part I will continue my fight to create more accountability in government," Chandrasekhar added.

For my part I will continue my fight to create more accountability in government

• united bengaluru
• Horamavu Agara lake