A latest study by the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), has shown that 54 per cent of lakes in the City have been encroached upon for construction activities and turned into garbage dump yards. The study, conducted just after the recent frothing and fire at Varthur Lake, has revealed that 66 per cent of the lakes were fed with sewage, 14 per cent surrounded by slums and 72 per cent had lost their catchment areas. The study titled ‘pathetic status of wetlands in Bangalore: Epitome of inefficient and uncoordinated governance’ was conducted by six IISc researchers, headed by Prof T V Ramachandra, Energy and Wetland Research Group, CES.