LDA to restore more lakes in city

LDA promises to restore more lakes
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: Enthused by the success of restoring Nagavara and K.R. Puram lakes around the city, the Lake Development Authority (LDA) has decided to take up lakes at Arkere, Hulimavu and Rachenahalli during the next phase of programme.

Speaking to this website’s newspaper, assistant principal chief conservator of Forests Avani Kumar Varma said that the LDA had already prepared project reports for restoring these tanks and sent it for Central approval.

So far, the LDA has taken up restoration of Nagavara, K.R. Puram, where the work is complete. The other two works around Bangalore in progress include Jaraganahalli and Doddabommasandra, where core works of de-silting, bunding and diverting of sewerage have been completed, Varma said.

Besides, the LDA will develop Jakkur tank, Puttenahalli tank, Hoskerehalli tank and Yelahanka tank with financial assistance from the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation, he said.

MANAGEMENT :

Meanwhile, the LDA has also decided to take up scientific management of the lakes around Bangalore, which were recently rejuvenated.

The decision was taken after the LDA came across a report that hard metal was still being discharged to Hebbal tank. Water sample analysis confirmed that acidity level in a small pocket of the tank was alarmingly high.

The source is attributed to some industries and the Pollution Control Board had been requested to take a look into the matter, Varma said.

ENCROACHMENT :

Ever since LDA was established three years ago, the organisation has identified encroachment of tank bunds to the extent of about 500 acres.

So far, encroachment to the tune of 100 acres have been cleared. Wherever the encroachers have protested, legal action has been initiated against them and it would be cleared within matter of time. The boundaries of around 40-50 lakes around Bangalore has been clearly marked and fenced, Varma added.

EDUCATION :

LDA, in association with BCC and KSPCB took up ‘green Ganesha’ programme to avoid pollution during immersion of Ganesha idols in various tanks of the City.

The study conducted by the KSPCB during the post-immersion period last year revealed that 71.8 per cent of the lake water samples exceeded drinking water parameters. Traces of Chromium, Lead, Copper, Zinc, Manganese and Iron were found in the samples, rendering it unfit for drinking, Varma said.

This year, a major campaign was launched to ensure that the Ganesha idols were not immersed into lakes directly, but were immersed in the alternative ‘kalyanis’ constructed by the organisation, Varma said.

The LDA was also planning to launch a permanent programme to involve the Bangalore people in restoration and maintaining the lakes, Varma added.