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Lake-minded generations
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The city's elder statesman, N. Lakshman Rau, is a pioneer in lake conservation. He walks down a lush memory lane with Ahalya Naidu, a young green working for her doctorate
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WHAT DO you get when two greens discuss the what-was and what-should-be of the lakes in Bangalore? A trip down a very lush memory lane. N. Lakshman Rau, the first administrator of the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and artist of the path-breaking 1986 report on lakes and tanks in the city, becomes a storyteller, talking of days when the bearer of the Karaga took his ritual bath in Sampige Kere, and when our city was a lovely dream of lakes, trees, and humble homes. Ahalya Naidu, working at her Ph.D. at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) and an avowed lover of Bangalore's lakes, wonders aloud about a community that continues to sleep even as the City of Lakes dries up. They despair over how we refuse to see our lakes and tanks die a slow death and close our nose to the stink emanating from the once magnificent water bodies now filled with weeds and sewage. Little tales and deep concerns for the city unfold as Rau and Ahalya discuss their common love with ROHNINI MOHAN.
Ahalya: Do you see your dreams fulfilled now? Was the report taken seriously?
Rau: The original intention of my report was mosquito control. I made a special recommendation that the tanks be handed over to the Forest Department. These have been achieved. Millers Tank, Sampige Kere... they were all neglected before. Now they're not. To that extent, I'm happy.
Ahalya: But there are others like the Belandur Tank...
Rau: Ah, yes. Belandur is an unfortunate tank because of sewage. It was supposed to be a small cascade for the fish. Now if you go to Belandur, you can't even stand there for two minutes. I'm told tertiary treatment of sewage is being done now. I hope that's true...
Ahalya: I guess new tanks can be created in whatever valleys there are in the topography.
Rau: Yes, you're right. If new lakes must be formed, the valleys should be left open for rainwater to flow into them. Unfortunately, buildings have come up in a number of lakebeds today. Bangalore's lake capacity has actually come down by more than half.
Ahalya: Earlier, we had a Norwegian fund for restoration of the lakes. But that wasn't enough. Maybe people should contribute in some way...
Don't pollute
Rau: All people need to remember is not to pollute the lakes. It's the government's duty to raise funds, but we're responsible to push them to action. We needn't give money, but must demand a proper sewage system. People must prevent silting also...
Ahalya: Thankfully, many lakes now have a separate corner for putting Ganesha idols — it reduces silting. But how active were NGOs in your time?
Rau: In those days, there was no interest in these issues. But now, so many NGOs are there. They must mobilise people... tell them what a great asset tanks are. In Rajasthan, there is a village that gets almost no rain, but NGOs helped them harvest rain. But most NGOs do research on wildlife and plants. Lakes are only by the way.
Ahalya: Maybe scientific breakthroughs will help...
Rau: Definitely! Modern science can help a lot if implemented practically. For example, IISc. came up with wind power to generate electricity. But without wind, what's the use? Similarly, if lakes disappear, modern desilting techniques will be wasteful.
Ahalya: In the most recent report by the Lake Development Authority, jogging spaces, parks, and other recreation areas are suggested around lakes. It might help to beautify the city, but littering and soil compaction might happen. Too many humans around lakes might scare off the birds into migration.
Rau: Maybe little islands like in Ulsoor Lake will prevent bird life from being affected. The authorities must make strict rules about littering. Awareness is the key.
Enlightened people will not litter. Our Kanteerava Stadium now stands where Sampige Kere was. Now there is nothing but a small pond because of neglect. When I was working on Yediyur Lake, there was a hue and cry that it should be dried up. But I converted the area around it into a garden and people appreciated that. Ultimately, it is `we' that is always greater than `me'.
Ahalya: When there is opposition from people itself, you can't do anything.
`People learn fast'
Rau: Who says? Every time you want to do something new, people will object. But you must convince them. Clean up the lake. Make a park and fountain near it. Once upon a time, even Sankey Tank was very dirty.
The locals wanted to make a children's theatre there. I prevented this, so they all shouted at me because I deprived children of a theatre. Now, some 18-storeyed building is planned around there and there is a lot of opposition. People learn fast.
Ahalya: Bangalore is a very unplanned city. It would probably have been easier if we were in Chandigarh.
Rau: Come on, how much can you plan? Cities grow. When I was young, you wouldn't see even one car on the road in the afternoon! No flyovers or multi-storeyed buildings. How could anyone have predicted such growth? You just have to change policies to suit the times.
Ahalya: Do you think a lifestyle change will help? Maybe by not using polythene or expensive bottled water, we won't kill our lakes.
Rau: Yes, the public can only gain from making small changes in their living. In shops in the U.S.A., concessions are given for bringing your own bag! And see how no one protests when there is a water rate hike? That's because a fuel price hike affects people immediately, but effects of water shortage are slow and long term. People must understand this...
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