Conserving the lakes of Bangalore - statutory planning vs. citizen's efforts
Bengaluru witnessed one of its worst floods in September last year. Heavy rains flooded many parts of the city, inundating neighborhoods and houses and damaging vehicles. Tractors and boats were used to evacuate people from homes in flooded neighborhoods. On the other side, Bengaluru is a city of many lakes. The lakes were built as traditional ‘irrigation tanks’ by the agrarian communities of the past and acted as part of the natural drainage system. These lakes are engulfed by urbanization, and many are facing challenges of encroachments and neglect.
