‘Sankey Lake: Let the MudBank remain’
Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್
Bengaluru: Citizens for Sankey has demanded that the MuDBank in Sankey Lake be preserved.
‘A large area in Sankey Lake has been developed with concrete, and the dilapidated MudBank should be preserved as a natural ‘mud Bank’. It should not be concretised in any way,’ the ‘Citizens for Sankey’ has written a letter to BBMP’s Special Commissioner of Lakes Department, Preeti Gehlot.
‘We are not opposing the construction of a Track in the lake. But it should not spoil the eco-friendly environment. There is only a small area of mud Bank left in Sankey Lake. It should be strengthened and preserved,’ they have demanded.
‘Many species of birds are in Sankey Lake. They build nests and live with their young. A natural habitat is necessary for biodiversity. Therefore, if the walking track lined with plants is kept free from soil, it will be beneficial for birds and insects,” said.
“The water flowing into the lake is treated due to the presence of soil. The groundwater is recharged. The soil acts like a ‘sponge’ and retains moisture,” said members of the ‘Citizens for Sankey’ of the
‘A large area in Sankey Lake has been developed with concrete, and the dilapidated MudBank should be preserved as a natural ‘mud Bank’. It should not be concretised in any way,’ the ‘Citizens for Sankey’ has written a letter to BBMP’s Special Commissioner of Lakes Department, Preeti Gehlot.
‘We are not opposing the construction of a Track in the lake. But it should not spoil the eco-friendly environment. There is only a small area of mud Bank left in Sankey Lake. It should be strengthened and preserved,’ they have demanded.
‘Many species of birds are in Sankey Lake. They build nests and live with their young. A natural habitat is necessary for biodiversity. Therefore, if the walking track lined with plants is kept free from soil, it will be beneficial for birds and insects,” said.
“The water flowing into the lake is treated due to the presence of soil. The groundwater is recharged. The soil acts like a ‘sponge’ and retains moisture,” said members of the ‘Citizens for Sankey’ of the
Sadashivnagar Residents Welfare Association.
Full letter goes like this…
We are writing to urgently request that you retain the last remaining natural mudbank at Sankey Tank Lake and not cover it with concrete or gabion walls as part of the current walkway development
To be clear, we are not opposing the construction of the walkway. However, this must not come at the cost of total ecological destruction. The small patch of mudbank remaining is the last soft edge of the lake and it is ecologically irreplaceable.
Why this mudbank must be preserved:
Critical for biodiversity: Birds such as cormorants, purple moorhens, herons, and many others depend on muddy, shallow edges to feed, nest, and rest. Insects, amphibians, and small reptiles also use these moist zones for survival. These species cannot adapt to vertical, stone-reinforced edges like gabion walls.
Essential for lake health: Mudbanks naturally filter runoff, stabilise shorelines, and allow for groundwater recharge - functions that gabions and concrete cannot perform.
Vital during droughts: Last year, during the drought, water levels in Sankey Tank fell to alarming lows. One reason is the increased concretisation, which has eliminated the lake's natural ability to retain and slowly release water. Mudbanks act like sponges they absorb and hold moisture, supporting the lake's resilience.
Gabion walls are not a one-size-fits-all solution: While gabion walls may help with erosion in certain sections, converting 100% of the lake's edge into hardened surfaces is ecologically disastrous. Experts recommend keeping at least 20-30% of any lake edge natural and porous. Sankey Tank has already lost most of its soft shoreline - this final patch must be preserved.
To be clear, we are not opposing the construction of the walkway. However, this must not come at the cost of total ecological destruction. The small patch of mudbank remaining is the last soft edge of the lake and it is ecologically irreplaceable.
Why this mudbank must be preserved:
Critical for biodiversity: Birds such as cormorants, purple moorhens, herons, and many others depend on muddy, shallow edges to feed, nest, and rest. Insects, amphibians, and small reptiles also use these moist zones for survival. These species cannot adapt to vertical, stone-reinforced edges like gabion walls.
Essential for lake health: Mudbanks naturally filter runoff, stabilise shorelines, and allow for groundwater recharge - functions that gabions and concrete cannot perform.
Vital during droughts: Last year, during the drought, water levels in Sankey Tank fell to alarming lows. One reason is the increased concretisation, which has eliminated the lake's natural ability to retain and slowly release water. Mudbanks act like sponges they absorb and hold moisture, supporting the lake's resilience.
Gabion walls are not a one-size-fits-all solution: While gabion walls may help with erosion in certain sections, converting 100% of the lake's edge into hardened surfaces is ecologically disastrous. Experts recommend keeping at least 20-30% of any lake edge natural and porous. Sankey Tank has already lost most of its soft shoreline - this final patch must be preserved.
Protected by environmental law: The Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority Act (2014)and Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules (2017) both require the protection of the ecological character of lakes. Concreting over every last natural edge violates the intent of these policies.
Continue the walkway plan, but
Our request:
Continue the walkway plan, but
Leave the last natural mudbank untouched, without covering it with gabion walls or concrete
Protect and maintain this patch as a living shoreline, essential for biodiversity and water health
We are happy to meet your team to explore alternatives that balance ecological preservation with public access. We urge you to act immediately before irreversible damage is done.
Citizens for Sankey
(Sadashivnagar Residents Welfare Association)
We are happy to meet your team to explore alternatives that balance ecological preservation with public access. We urge you to act immediately before irreversible damage is done.
Citizens for Sankey
(Sadashivnagar Residents Welfare Association)
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