Its amazing when you don’t realize how important something is until something happens to it.

No, I’m not talking about some love story gone wrong. I’m talking about this.

For me, this lake is an important part of the monotonous journey I make to and fro school everyday. No matter how my day has begun, just seeing the lake for a brief few seconds has always made things better. There’s just something about the way the water glistens in the sun, completely oblivious to the heavy traffic on the flyover. Its just always been AROUND. Even after the cleaning and whatever they did to it some years ago, its always had its own identity. For me, its been a symbol of freedom. That maybe Bangalore hasn’t changed so much like people say it has. That this city still retains some of its environmental morality, if theres such a thing. That we aren’t a conscience-less, soul-less, heart-less group of people.

“Under the terms of the PPP, EIH can use the lake for 15 years on payment to the LDA of Rs. 72 lakh a year with an annual escalation of 1.5 per cent of this sum. Besides a floating restaurant, the lake shore will have a cafeteria, a children’s park, a handicrafts and gift centre, a waterfall and a statue, and a medical centre, all developed for Rs. 16 crore. The lake will be fenced and an entrance fee of Rs. 20 charged. It is expected to attract 2,000 visitors a day.”

Just dandy.

Oh and just so you know,we’re destroying the habitat of nearly 30 species of birds (including Sandpipers, Ducks, Coromants and Clovers ) so that the project can serve as an “avenue for recreation” and “keep the place clear of slums”. So that guests at a lake hotel can gaze at a pretty lake. Of course, theres that minor point off people like farmers, fishing communities, cattle herders, washermen, and casual workers not being able to make use of the lake anymore.

Completely fair compromise don”t you think?

And it’s just perfectly fitting that as I type this blog entry, a tree is being semi-killed outside my house.