An old kalyani (temple tank) in Gottigere, which is believed to be a heritage structure, was filled and covered with debris to make way for a road expansion project, much to the ire of local citizens.
Over Friday and Saturday, truckloads of debris was dumped in the dry tank, which abuts the the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) office on Bannerghatta Main Road.
“The BBMP, which is filling the tank, has not consulted any local resident or the Save Gottigere Lake group, which, in fact, cleaned up the kalyani last year,” said Saurabh Sukumaran Nair who is a member of the group.
He added that the authorities should have saved the kalyani instead of filling it. “These tanks are part of the city's rich culture and heritage. These were built as rainwater harvesting structures,” he pointed out.
Veerabhadrappa, Joint Commissioner, Bommanahalli zone, BBMP said the kalyani was filled as part of the widening of Bannerghatta Road.
Gottigere councillor Lalitha's husband Narayan said widening of the road from J.D. Mara junction to Koli Farm Gate, which has been pending for many years, has now been taken up at a cost of ₹150 crore.
“There was no option but to fill the kalyani to make way for road widening,” he said, adding that apart from this tank, the project will have an impact on three temples, part of a school and a traffic police station on the stretch.
Additional Chief Secretary Mahendra Jain told The Hindu that he directed the Joint Commissioner to remove the debris and take up improvement of the tank after receiving information about the kalyani being filled.
