BBMP’s lake rejuvenation misses I-Day deadline

Sanjay R Murty

Bengaluru

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike has, yet again, overshot a deadline. This time, it is not just another project but one taken up as part of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Officials of the civic body have apparently been so busy with celebrations that they have neglected the targets set by the BBMP for this year’s Independence Day.

Works at 22 lakes that the civic body had planned to rejuvenate by August 15 are still pending. The BBMP had initially set a target of 39 lakes for rejuvenation before the 76th Independence Day. However, BBMP officials had cited issues with the boundary and other hurdles for reducing the number of lakes under the AKAM plan to 22 (signifying the year 2022). The total cost of rejuvenating the 20 lakes was estimated by the BBMP to be over Rs 65 crores

“We will dedicate 22 lakes to the people of Bengaluru by August 15. Work on the remaining 17 lakes will be completed by the year-end,” BBMP Special Commissioner (Estates) said while announcing the initiative in June.

 News Trail verified the claim by visiting five lakes in the city: three in the Bommanahalli zone and two in the Mahadevapura zone. While there was visible progress in terms of rejuvenating and developing the water bodies, the work was far from complete. Most of these lakes have survived despite threats of encroachment and are still facing the risk of losing their buffer zones.

 Sarakki Lake

 Sarakki Lake is a large lake with a total area of over 80 acres. It is situated between Sarakki and Jaraganahalli Village in JP Nagar and is part of the BBMP’s Bommanahalli zone. It is being developed at a cost of Rs 5 crores by the BBMP. Garbage has been dumped at a corner in the lake premises. This has also affected the water in the lake. The walkway around the lake is yet to be paved completely. Landscaping and gardening activities for the beautification of the peripheral area of the lake have not yet begun.

Lakes off Kanakapura Road

 The Gubbalala and Doddakallasandra lakes are situated on either side of the Kanakapura Road. Both these lakes fall under the BBMP’s Bommanahalli zone.

The BBMP claimed to have completed The BBMP had claimed in June that work had been 100% complete in this lake. However, the guard at the lake’s entrance told News Trail that it might take a few more weeks to finish.

At Doddakallasandra Lake, workers were installing poles meant for lights along the walkway surrounding the lake. The BBMP had claimed to have completed 100% of the work at Doddakallasandra Lake, which is being developed at a cost of Rs 5 crores. The lake needs de-weeding and cleaning.

Lakes of Mahadevapura zone

 According to the BBMP, 95% of the development works at Nageshwara-Nagenahalli Lake (near RK Hegde Nagar) were completed as of June 2022. However, the lake is still in need of a fence to demarcate its boundary. Although the portion of the lake along the road has a fence, the side facing an upcoming residential layout has no demarcation. It also poses a serious safety risk.

 Development work at the Garudacharpalya Goshala Lake is also incomplete. The lake is part of the Mahadevapura zone. The pathway around the lake is being used as a thoroughfare by people residing in the surrounding area. The safety of children moving around and playing in the vicinity is compromised due to the lack of security personnel.

Four of the five lakes verified by News Trail had no security personnel. This has led to the dumping of garbage and other nuisance on the lake premises.

 News Trail contacted Shashi Kumar, who is the Chief Engineer of the BBMP’s Lakes Department. However, he was unaware of the details of the target and the progress as he had been posted to the position recently. “I have also been busy with responsibilities related to Independence Day celebrations,” he added.