If you drive along the T. Narasipur road that runs on its bund, you will notice that a brand new residential layout is coming up at a very fast pace on the northern bank of the vast Varuna Lake, barely a stone’s throw away from the city. Fully asphalted roads have already been laid and the sites seem all set for the construction activities to start.

This vast layout is located bang on the gentle slope that is a part of the catchment area of the lake from which most of the rainwater has to flow into it. If I remember my facts right, there is a law that stipulates that since such areas happen to be sensitive portions of the micro - ecosystems of water bodies, they cannot be used for any non - agricultural purposes let alone being encroached upon either by any industrial or residential layouts. Such activities not only block the vital inflow of rainwater that should nourish and sustain the lake but are also likely to pollute it with the effluents that inevitably come out of any human existence.

I wonder if this layout has been cleared by all the agencies that are supposed to look into the protection of our environment. It does not seem likely as these agencies, if they had been approached for such clearance, would have taken into consideration all the concerns that affect the lake. Has anyone, who is associated with the formation of this layout or the authority that has cleared it, given a thought to where its sewage will flow and how it will be disposed off considering the fact that the only slope from it leads straight to the lake.

Some years ago, attempts to form a residential layout in the proximity of the Thippegondanahally reservoir that supplies a part of the drinking water to Bangalore were successfully thwarted by environmentalists. The argument that the Varuna Lake is not a provider of drinking water does not hold water as it not only serves the needs of agricultural activities but also recharges all the wells that provide drinking water to the inhabitants around it. Any contamination of its water can therefore have disastrous consequences.

We have scores of examples of such occurrences which have ruined pristine water bodies. The Varuna Lake is not only the permanent home of many types of native birds but it has also been the regular seasonal destination of many rare migratory species. Two varieties of pelicans have alighted there right now and I have been watching their activities regularly every week with great delight. The establishment of a permanent human habitation close to this ecosystem is not only likely to deter birds and animals from visiting the area but over a period of time it will certainly drive away the native residents too.

Will our district authorities please be kind enough to look into this sensitive matter and enlighten us about how a residential layout has been allowed to come up on an area of land that should have been considered environmentally sacrosanct?

Devaraj Urs Road:
The Devaraj Urs Road has become the hub of our business district where understandably, not only the real estate comes at a great premium but also the parking space.

Just yesterday we read a report about an altercation between a motorist, who was looking for a place to park his car and a shop - keeper who would not allow him to park it in front of his outlet.

Although I think I know the reason for it very well, I would still like to ask here how the Traffic Police authorities were all along allowing shop - keepers selling car accessories to block and utilise precious parking space to carry on their trade of installing music systems, mag - wheels and seat covers the whole day long, for years on end, without making a fuss.

This benevolent largesse stands out like a sore thumb when you consider how malevolent and impatient they always seem whenever a motorist with no other go waits alongside the parked cars, with his engine running, just for as long as it takes to pick up his wife or children who have been dropped there earlier to do their shopping.

I have had the experience of being urged on by frowning men in white who have on many occasions banged the roof of my car with a stout baton to draw my attention. When I have in turn drawn their attention to the day - long usurpation of our legitimate share of parking place for illegitimate activities, they have always given me their most genial smiles and advised me to “Swalpa adjust madkolli, sir, Yen madokke agathe, Kaala sari illa!”

It is time we introduced paid parking facilities at least on this stretch of road where free day - long parking now seems to be the rule. It is also time we told errant shop - keepers that while selling car accessories is perfectly legitimate business, fitting them except in licenced garages and workshops is certainly illegitimate.