Residents around Sarakki and Puttenahalli lakes, which are overflowing, are experiencing a sense of déjà vu. In 2005, they had a nightmarish experience when the area was flooded.
On Monday, the area was under ankle deep water. The reason: the Satya Ganapathy temple, which was spared during last year’s demolition drive. The temple has been built on the weir on the northeast part of the lake. The selective demolition that left 15 temples on the lake bed, including the Satya Ganapathy temple, is being seen as the reason for the flooding.
Like in the case of flooding between Arekere and Madiwala lake, the interconnecting channels are missing, sources said. There is no functional rajakaluve between Sarakki lake and the downstream Madiwala lake. The current lake’s drainage system is woefully inadequate. “Demolition of temples on the lakebed and restoring the original rajakaluve is the only solution,” said Ravi, executive engineer (Lakes), BBMP.