Development, a bane to the natural ecosystem ?? ☠️

Bangalore, the capital of the south Indian state, Karnataka, was once home to 1000 lakes says sources but as of today there are only 189 lakes present in the state and the main cause is Development and urbanisation. On an average of 25 years, Bangalore receives 877.8 mm of rainfall every year and until a few years ago it never faced the problem of floods during monsoon. Yes, flooded roads and never-ending traffic are major problems for the city dwellers during monsoon but there are other problems which may seem minor to the majority of the population but these problems have a major impact on the natural ecosystem. Let us take the example of Saul Kere Lake.

Saul Kere Lake is situated in Sarjapur which is the heart of Urban Bangalore. There are 200 different species of birds, 4 species of snakes and other interesting urban wildlife which have been recorded in the lake. Even though the lake is situated in the middle of the city, the habitat of the lake is suitable for many species of migratory birds, attracting them year after year. In the recent past, there has been too much development which took place around this region that it has become a threat to the natural ecosystem. 

I have been going bird watching at this lake regularly for the past two years and what I saw when I visited the lake last time (23rd May 2022) made me extremely sad and disappointed. 

The lake is rain-fed but there is open sewage which flows adjacent to the boundary separated by a cement wall, which makes sure the hazardous contaminated water does not mix with the fresh lake water.

Bangalore in the past month has experienced continuous rainfall which caused the sewage to overflow the cement wall and mix with the water of the lake. The plastic, chemical, and poisonous substances which flow in the sewage enter the clean waters polluting it tremendously. Not just that the development which is taking place around the region has polluted the immediate surroundings and the floods caused due to heavy rain transported the pollutants into the water body further contaminating it.

Where there is a predator, there is prey is a popular saying and if there are 200 different species of birds which are found within this lake with a boundary of 2.1 km you can imagine the number of fishes which are living and breeding in the lake's water. 

The now contaminated water has become a stairway to death for the aquatic life present here. There are bodies of hundreds of dead fishes floating on the surface along with a few unfortunate birds which consumed them out of hunger. If the water continues to get further contaminated, it will soon be unfit for any kind of life. The humans will not look twice before utilising the dead lake for building skyscrapers and fancy malls.

 It is high time we realise the true meaning of development without hampering the lives of other organisms.

The picture shows us a dead fish in the contaminated water along with heavy development in the background

Dead Fish in contaminated water

Dead Fish close-up