Cauvery Aarti at Sankey Tank is drawing criticism for environmental harm and wasting taxpayer money that could be better spent on lake conservation.
Published Mar 19, 2025 | 10:00 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 19, 2025 | 10:00 AM
Experts and citizens criticise the government’s plan to host a large-scale religious event at Sankey Tank.
Synopsis: The Karnataka government is organising Cauvery Aarati in Bengaluru on 21 March. Activists argue that the massive gathering will generate significant waste, further polluting an already fragile ecosystem. Residents said the funds being poured into the aarti could have been better spent on restoring lakes across the city.
Bengaluru is set to witness its first-ever Cauvery Aarti at Sankey Tank on 21 March, a grand event organised by the Karnataka government and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) as part of its 60-year celebration.
While the event aims to honour River Cauvery — the city’s primary water source — environmentalists and citizens are raising concerns over its environmental impact and financial implications.
With over 10,000 attendees expected, including priests flown in from Varanasi, a grand procession, a puja, a laser show, and a live orchestra, the scale of the event is unprecedented for a city struggling with water conservation.
Activists argue that the massive gathering will generate significant waste, further polluting an already fragile ecosystem.
Several residents expressed their frustration, stating that the funds being poured into the aarti could have been better spent on restoring lakes across the city.
“Sankey Tank is already in a deteriorating condition, with frequent fish deaths and poor water quality. Instead of investing in conservation efforts, the government is prioritising an event that will only add to the pollution,” said a resident from Sadashivanagar.
Environmental activist Anand Malligavad, known as the “Lake Man of India,” criticised the event as a misguided effort that does nothing to address Bengaluru’s real water concerns.
“This money could have been used for conservation efforts, especially with summer approaching and water shortages looming. Instead, the government is treating it as a spiritual offering rather than an actual solution,” he told South First.
Malligavad also highlighted how beautification efforts at Sankey Tank have prioritised concrete structures over improving water quality.
“Every year, they spend crores on railings, bollards, and tiles instead of focusing on actual ecosystem restoration. The water quality is declining, and fish are dying, yet they continue to make superficial changes instead of addressing the real issues,” he said.
He further criticised the plan to distribute sacred water from Bhagamandala as prasada, stating that such symbolic acts do nothing to solve the city’s growing water management crisis.
Another major concern is waste management. Aarti ceremonies, especially on this scale, typically leave behind large amounts of plastic, flowers, and other non-biodegradable waste, which could further choke the lake and harm aquatic life.
Activists fear that aarti participants will leave behind offerings and litter in and around the lake, further harming its fragile ecosystem.
“People will throw everything into the lake. After the event, I don’t think they will even allocate a budget for cleaning it up,” Malligavad warned.
At a time when Bengaluru is grappling with severe water shortages and declining groundwater levels, critics argue that public funds should be channelled towards long-term conservation efforts rather than grand religious spectacles.
With lakes across the city shrinking due to encroachments and poor maintenance, environmentalists believe the focus should be on sustainable restoration rather than one-off symbolic events.
Despite these concerns, the government appears determined to push forward with the Cauvery Aarti, branding it as a tribute to the river that sustains the city.
But with Sankey Tank already under strain, citizens and activists worry that this event will do more harm than good, leaving the lake in worse condition while failing to address Bengaluru’s real water crisis.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
