Development work at Sankey Tank, one of the few remaining public spaces in the city, has been progressing at a snail’s pace for the past four years. Visitors, who are already inconvenienced owing to the ongoing works, now have to put up with the weakened walking track that poses a danger.
An estimated 3,000 people visit the tank each day. This figure increases during holidays and summer vacation.
According to a senior citizen, who frequents the tank, the improvement work being executed by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has nearly come to a standstill for the past two to three months. “We were informed that the delay in the work is owing to the non-release of payment to the contractor,” he said.
President of the Sankey Tank Walkers’ Association Anand A.R. told The Hindu that the work on strengthening the walking track on the west bank is almost complete and only the railings need to be fitted. “When the work began, it was progressing well. But, off late, it seems to have come to a standstill,” he added.
The work on the west bank was stopped for nearly nine months earlier. The walkers’ association had then intervened, met the jurisdictional officials and even the local MLA C.N. Ashwathnarayan to ensure the work was expedited.
Along with the work on the west bank, BBMP has also taken up the construction of a second immersion pond at a cost of ₹ 45 lakh. The work on the pond too has come to a standstill. The walkers’ association had earlier urged the BBMP and the MLA to construct another immersion pond, as the existing one was too close to the walking track.
BBMP Chief Engineer (Lakes) S. Somashekhar said that the development work was being taken up under Nagarothana Scheme and that there was no shortage of funds. He, however, conceded that work was facing some delays. “There have been some delays in the concrete work on the kalyani. However, the immersion tank will be ready by June, ahead of the Ganesha festival,” he said.
Mr. Ashwathnarayan said that following the recommendation of the Indian Institute of Science (IISc.), the tank bund was being strengthened by incorporating gabion boxes. The gabion box technology is used to strengthen embankments, bunds, and shores against erosion. “We first needed to address the weakening bund, following which the waste weir was repaired. Once the work on west bank is completed, work on the east bank will be taken up,” he said. He added that he was trying to mobilise funds for the work on the south bank. Once that is completed, a bridge connecting the east and west bank would be constructed.
