Bengaluru's prized Rampur Lake now starts foaming

A lot of foam has been rising on the surface of the Rampur Lake in Mahadevapura constituency. 

 

The lake, with an area of 107 acres, is situated between KR Puram and Mahadevapura. The water level of the lake has been decreasing in the lake every year. The drainage water of areas such as Shivajinagar, Hebbal, Horamavu, and many surrounding apartments goes to the lake without proper water treatment.

 

There are two canals that drain into the lake (near Rampur and near Maragondanahalli) stretching two to three kilometres. About five to six feet foam is has been forming in the canals as chemical waste is released to the lake from the surrounding factories.

 

Recently a few dengue cases were found in Rampur due to lack of maintenance of the lake. UT Khader, the then health minister and Arvind Limbavali, the local MLA had visited the villages.

 

But so far, the BBMP and the local governance have not taken any action to treat the lake water or to stop the flow of chemical wastage towards the lake.

 

Local residents say that the water of borewells in the surrounding areas is not worth drinking as it stinks. The villagers say that the stench is rising day by day and bringing with it hordes of mosquitos.

 

On top of that, BBMP lorries dump garbage on the western part of the lake. Local people say that many parts of the lake and many reserved places around the lake have been encroached upon. 

 

Just 15 years ago, Rampur Lake was a boon to the farmers in the area. The farmers used its water for agriculture and for drinking. Many families in Rampur village depended on this lake for fishing.

 

The lake was home to many rare species of birds as well, such as the Greater Flamingo, Southern Coucal, Ashy Drongo, White-breasted Kingfisher, Common Kingfisher, Pied Kingfisher, Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Eurasian Marsh Harrier, Black Kite, Ashy Prinia, Plain Prinia, Jungle Mynah, Indian Pond Heron, Grey Heron, Great Cormorant, Darter, Jungle Babbler, Little Grebe, Yellow Wagtail, Indian Spot-billed Duck, Glossy Ibis, Black-headed Ibis, Purple Moorhen, Common Coot, White-breasted Waterhen, Common Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper, Black-winged Kite, Grey-bellied Cuckoo, White Stork, Indian Roller, Paddyfield Pippit.

 

Even today some parts of the lake are home to many migrating birds.