Members of various citizens organisations, environmental groups and the Indian Institute of Science, have joined hands to save Sankey Tank through a signature campaign via SMS. In the last one month their cause has received over 5,000 supporters.
They plan to rescue 7.2 acres of Sankey Tank catchment area from a leading real estate developer, Mantri, which is said to be coming up with a residential project.
Chidanand Kulkarni, President of the Save Sankey Forum said any construction on this site will affect water supply for thousands of people living in and around Malleswaram. Ground water will deplete and around 1,000 borewells will go defunct.
“Around two months ago, we had submitted a memorandum to the Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister Ramanath Rai, but nothing has happened till date. Bengalureans have understood the importance of catchment areas and in the last one month through a SMS campaign we have collected 5,000 signatures. Many are still joining and the protest will be held on October 17 at Sankey Tank where more signatures will be collected. A memorandum will then be submitted to the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.
Members of Malleswaram Residents Welfare Association, Sadashivanagar Residents Welfare Association, Malleswaram Swabhimanaa Initiative, Kadu Malleswaram Geleya Balaga, Malleswaram Joint Action Committee, Yuva Global Foundation, Vruksha.com and volunteers from the BBMP Forest Cell have joined the protest.
A recent IISc report – Sankey Tank: Waiting for an Immediate Sensible Action, Pathetic Status of Wetlands in Bangalore: Epitome of Inefficient and Uncoordinated Governance – by Prof T V Ramachandra from the Energy and Wetlands Group, Centre for Ecological Sciences, states that the residential project proposed on the lake catchment area is not viable.
Forest department census conducted in May states that there are 1,259 trees in the site. The forest department has filed a petition in the Karnataka High Court challenging the construction and ownership of land. Sankey Park Walkers Association has also filed an impleading application.
Priyadarshini Paul, Corporate Communications, Mantri Group, said they were not aware of the protest. She said the company was yet to decide on what to do with the land – whether to construct apartments, commercial spaces or leave it barren.