Crores Spend by MSCL on Rejuvenating City Lakes Remain Polluted-Money Gone Down the Drain

By
Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean.
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Crores Spend by Mangaluru Smart City Ltd (MSCL) on Rejuvenating City Lakes Remain Polluted-Money Gone Down the Drain

Mangaluru: Even after there have been quite a few reports in print and electronic, including those published by Mangalorean.com about the negligence and non-maintenance of City lakes, namely Gujjarekere, Kavoor Lake and Moliy Lake, still as of today, no action has been taken either by the authorities of Mangaluru Smart City Ltd (MSCL) or Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC). After spending crores of rupees on rejuvenation of Gujjarakere, Kavoor Kere and Moily Kere the water body remains polluted due to the uninterrupted flow of sewage into it, alleged residents. While officials claim to have succeeded in plugging sewage from entering the lake, water quality tests have revealed coliform count and faecal coliform count being above the permissible limits in Gujjarakere.

Nemu Kottari of Gujjarakere Theertha Samrakshana Vedike informs that the lake has abundant water and could cater to the drinking needs of the city if sewage was prevented from polluting the lake. Samithi has been campaigning to restore Gujjarakere to its former glory since 2001. Once a breeding ground for mosquitoes, it has become a `must-visit’ place after the lake was developed under the Mangaluru Smart City project. Mangaluru Smart City Limited (MSCL) General Manager (Technical) Er Arun Prabha said many sewage inlets were closed down or diverted to existing sewer lines while rejuvenating Gujjarakere.
Kottari alleges that sewage seeps into the lakh from north northeastern side. Though water looks fresh, one can see sewage sediments, he said. Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur during his monthly phone-in programme had promised to plug the seepage of sewage into Gujjarakere. DK Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan during a review meeting of development works in the district had directed officials to constitute a committee to keep Kavoor and Gujjarakere clean.

The Rs 8 Crore Rejuvenated Kavoor Lake Inaugurated on 21 March 2023 is in Shambles & Filthy Again- The Lake water mixed with drainage water has gone stagnant, and has become a breeding place for mosquitoes, posing a risk of spreading Malaria and Dengue diseases. This is yet another example among many other projects completed by Mangaluru Smart City Ltd (MSCL) Following the rejuvenation of Gujjerekere Lake, the rejuvenation of Kavoor Lake was Mangaluru Smart City Ltd’s (MSCL’s) second lake development project, where the work had begun in 2020.

The rejuvenation work of Kavoor Lake, one of the historic and largest freshwater bodies in Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) limits, after completion with the expansive lakefront wore a completely fresh look in March 2023. Not any more, as of today, it is seen in bad condition. The lake spreading across 8.32 acres gradually became a cesspool with the inflow of sewage and other waste, like any other water body in urban areas. Kavoor Kere was spread over a sprawling area of 8.32 acres. However, owing to encroachment, the lake’s extent was reduced. MSCL initiated rejuvenation work by providing an 800-metre interlock walking path, and protective grills among others for Rs 8.32 crore. However, residents alleged that silt was not removed from the lake and sewage inflow continued to choke the lake.

Activist K R Narayana, who has been campaigning on the need to protect Kavoor Kere for 20 years, alleged that people cannot walk on the new walking track due to mosquito menace in Kavoor Kere. Arun Prabha said apartments connect stormwater drains to UGD, resulting in an overflow of UGD. The overflowing sewage in turn pollutes the lake. Locals at Gujjarakere, Kavoor Lake and Moliy Kere alleged that money spent on reviving lakes had gone down the drain.

Moily Kere at Mahakalipadpu in Bolar which was turned into a fresh waterbody from a slush pool by Mangaluru Urban Development Authority (MUDA), is slowly becoming a slush pool again following complete lack of maintenance. D. Vedavyasa Kamath, Mangaluru City South MLA, had initiated the rejuvenation of the small tank, located next to a plywood factory and now the new four-lane Morgan’s Gate-Jeppinamogaru Junction with NH 66 Road. It was one among eight tanks in his constituency that saw complete rejuvenation in 2023. The MLA had got MUDA to bear the cost of the Moily Kere rejuvenation project which is Rs 50 lakh.

Arun Prabha said; “Gujjarakere inlets are catchments from the entire area. Sewage overflows and enters the lake as apartments have connected storm water drains to UGD”. Officials feel that residents should also ensure the surroundings of the water body are clean. However, even after spending crores on rejuvenation of these lakes the concerned officials of MSCL or MCC have not come up with a proper solution to solve this problem and clean up the lakes, instead, they are blaming the residents/citizens.

Rs 10.61 crore down the drain:

Rs 1.99 crore was spent by Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) for the rejuvenation of Gujjarakere between 2008 and 2010. Rs 25 lakh was spent on the underground drainage system in the locality, in 2011. In 2015, the Department of Minor Irrigation released Rs one crore for desilting and dredging works. Rs 3 crore was released to prevent sewage from entering the lake and to take up UGD work in the vicinity in 2017. Under the smart city project, Rs 4.37 crore was utilised for rejuvenation works. Kavoor Kere was developed for Rs 8.32 crore.

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