Bengaluru: A group of citizens gathered at Hebbal Lake Sunday opposing the use of lake land and its buffer for the Rs 1,140-crore short tunnel project, warning that construction in the already flood-prone area could worsen waterlogging and damage the lake’s ecological health.Holding banners that read ‘Leave Our Lakes Alone’ and ‘Kere Beku, Tunnel Beda’ (We want lakes, not tunnels), the citizens said Bengaluru’s waterbodies and tree cover could not be sacrificed for infrastructure projects. The protesters also pointed to the long history of Hebbal Lake, one of Bengaluru’s major waterbodies, and said years of sewage inflow, encroachment and unplanned infrastructure had already degraded the lake.Rohini, a protester, said, “Pouring concrete over lakes and reservoirs is as suicidal as willfully blocking one’s own arteries.”Rahul, a resident, said the project went against the legacy associated with Kempegowda, whose statue stands opposite the lake. “I remember reading that his mother told him, ‘Keregalum Kattu, Marangalum Nedu’, which translates to ‘Build many lakes and plant many trees’. But how are we following this legacy? The lake is being used for the short tunnel and more than 1,000 trees will be removed,” he said.The 2.2-km short tunnel is among the infrastructure projects being scrutinised over its impact on the lake. Earlier, Karnataka high court had sought details on whether the project would affect Hebbal Lake’s inflow and outflow as well as underground water flow.An IISc study cited during the proceedings had also raised concerns over the project, including the possibility of congestion shifting to other points and issues related to the tunnel’s entry and exit locations and the existing flyover infrastructure.
