Vibhutipura Lake

Vibhutipura Lake
ವಿಭೂತಿಪುರ ಸರೋವರ (Kannada)
Vibhuthipura Lake as on 10th June 2023
Vibhuthipura Lake as on 10th June 2023
Vibhutipura Lake is located in Bengaluru
Vibhutipura Lake
Vibhutipura Lake
Vibhutipura Lake is located in Karnataka
Vibhutipura Lake
Vibhutipura Lake
Vibhutipura Lake is located in India
Vibhutipura Lake
Vibhutipura Lake
LocationBangalore, Karnataka, India
Coordinates12°58′04″N 77°40′34″E / 12.9678°N 77.6761°E / 12.9678; 77.6761
TypeLake
Primary inflowsRainfall
Managing agencyBBMP
Built1903 (1903) by Hoysala Empire
Surface area43 acres (17 ha)
Max. depth3 metres (9.8 ft)
References[1]
Vibhutipura Lake and vicinity

Vibuthipura Lake is a lake in the suburb of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, in the southeast of the city of Bengaluru. The lake is the part of Bellandur-Varthur Lake series.

History

A lake in Vibhutipura was built by the Hoysalas (10-14th century).[2] An inscription from the 14th century describes the creation of a village and tank in the area.[2]

The lake was maintained by the state forest department.[3] Administration was handed over to Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and then Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).[4]

Local populations became involved with the lake following sewage inflow, dumping and encroachment.[5] This resulted in a populist approach to governance of the lake.[5] Residential associations and Vibhutipura Kere Abhivridhi Mattu Samrakshane Samiti (VIKAS) have campaigned for lake restoration.[6] Restoration activities have included construction of a walking path and construction of a fence. Recreational use has increased.[7] The lake is seasonal. When dry, the lake bed was used for unofficial activities such as cricket and grazing.[8] These have been highlighted in the media as well.[9]

2023

In April 2023, there was extensive cleaning of water hyacinths inhabiting the Lake. This led to its rejuvenation. The Lake filled with water, which is a sight to behold. It is unclear though how long this will remain. This is because sewage still flows to the Lake. The Sewage Treatment Plant, envisaged six years back is still pending completion. The walkway broken up during the weed removal is yet to be relaid.

Encroachment

A recent development which is of graver concern is a construction happening on the Lake property. The fence has been broken, concreting done and the walls are coming up. A gathering is planned at 8 AM on Sat, 17 Jun in the Lake premises for wider publicity and force authorities to take notice.

References

  1. ^ Final Report on Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area (BMA), vol. II: Lake Database and Atlas (Part-2: Bengaluru East Taluk), Funded by Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA), Centre for Lake Conservation (CLC), Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) (Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Government of Karnataka), March 2018, pp. 890, 916, 930, 1092{{citation}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ a b Nagendra, Harini (2016). Nature in the City: Bengaluru in the Past, Present, and Future. Oxford University Press. pp. 163–164. ISBN 978-0-19-908968-0.
  3. ^ Patel, Bharat A. (3 June 2015). "Vibuthipura lake gasping for breath". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Vibhutipura Lake stinks no more". Bangalore Mirror. 26 August 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  5. ^ a b Nath, Sanchayan (19 May 2021). "Managerial, clientelist or populist? Lake governance in the Indian city of Bangalore". Water International. 46 (4): 524–542. doi:10.1080/02508060.2021.1926827. ISSN 0250-8060.
  6. ^ "Bengaluru: Activists organise run to save Vibhutipura lake". Deccan Chronicle. 24 April 2017.
  7. ^ Derkzen, Marthe L.; Nagendra, Harini; Van Teeffelen, Astrid J. A.; Purushotham, Anusha; Verburg, Peter H. (2017). "Shifts in ecosystem services in deprived urban areas: understanding people's responses and consequences for well-being". Ecology and Society. 22 (1). doi:10.5751/ES-09168-220151. ISSN 1708-3087. JSTOR 26270102.
  8. ^ Sebastian, Bejoy (29 July 2019). "Bengaluru, believe it or not: This is a lake, and it stinks". Bangalore Mirror. Retrieved 17 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Lake Laxity". Bangalore Mirror. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.

Further reading