Stadium built on lake bed in Anekal gets flooded

BENGALURU: The Nadaprabhu Hiriya Kempe Gowda, popularly known as Kempe Gowda, was a feudal ruler who had prioritised lakes in the city. However, the modern-day lawmakers and officials have converted a lake into a stadium by leveling the land, which has become useless.

A taluk stadium in Anekal, built at cost of crores of rupees, has become a lake again due to rainwater. This is the only stadium in Anekal town, and now it’s shocking to see its condition.

The stadium was built on an 11-acre lake bed, but the authorities have neglected its maintenance. The stadium has become a instance of the official apathy. The stadium’s lights are damaged and the entire area is waterlogged. The stadium has remained unusable for sporting activities.

The stadium was built in Chikkakere in Anekal. In 2009, Goolihatti Shekhar, who was then Minister of Youth and Sports, and A Narayanaswamy, who was the MLA of Anekal, had inaugurated the stadium. But except for the Independence Day programme, only once in 15 years, has been held in this stadium so far.

Renuka, an athlete said, “The stadium in Anekal has fallen into disrepair. Grass has overgrown, rainwater has accumulated and the lights are damaged. Funds have been released in the name development of this stadium many times. The officials of the youth and sports department have not paid attention to this till now.  The iron gates have become rusty and are about to fall. The authorities concerned should repair this in view of public interest”.

A local shopkeeper said, “The entire stadium is covered with bushes and it has become like a lake due to rainwater accumulation. Light poles have been installed in the stadium, but there is no lighting system and the electric wires on all the poles have been spoiled”.

“The stadium has become useless for sports activities. It has been locked for many years, it is not used by the athletes. The situation has remained he same for 10 years. The stadium was built on an 11-acre lake and due to the rains that have poured for the past few days, the entire stadium has been flooded and Chikkakere has regained its former glory”, he said.

Locals have demanded that the stadium be properly maintained and utilized for sports purposes. Otherwise, they suggest converting it back into a lake.