BDA and BBMP to develop 29 city lakes

BDA and BBMP to develop 29 city lakes
More city lakes will be rejuvenated with this initiative. Sai Prasanna reports


Lake development in the city takes another turn for the better with 29 lakes in the process of being handed over, to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The BDA will develop 12 lakes, and the BBMP 17 lakes under the Jawarharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme. First, a detailed project report (DPR) has to be presented to the Lake Development Authority (LDA) and after it is approved by them, the organisations can go ahead with their plans.
The public-private partnership (PPP) formula has been in existence since 2003. LDA leases out lakes to private parties to develop and maintain them. There are two schemes under which these lakes can be developed. Four lakes - Nagavara, Vengaiahnakere, Hebbal, and Agaram lakes, have been leased to private developers under the DOT (develop-operate-transfer) basis. This lease extends for 15 years. Under the adopt-a-lake scheme, six lakes - Sheelavanthanakere, Kelaginakere, Mahadevapura, Kundalahalli, Chalkere, and Bachekere lakes, have been given out for a period of five years.
Specifications for beautification of the lake have not been made yet. D. S Umesh, Assistant Executive Engineer, LDA, says "There are only restrictions about what should not take place in or around a lake. Only five percent of the designated or foreshore area can be given for commercial activities as we don't want it to look like an amusement park. Right now only 0.1 percent of the entire lake area is actually being used for such activities."
Only temporary structures are allowed in the foreshore area. Amusement parks are not allowed nor are temples or temporary shacks.
Beautification is lake-specific and has to be approved by a board headed by members of nine departments - principal secretaries of the Departments of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Tourism, Urban Development, Minor Irrigation, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries, Secretaries of the Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, and Horticulture and the Chairpersons of the State Pollution Control Board and the Water Supply and Sewerage Board.
The process begins with the LDA giving out an advertisement for people who are interested in developing a lake. Interested parties have to then submit their company profile and an 'Expression of Interest' (EOI), and make a presentation before the board. A technical bid is first opened and parties interested will have to draw up a maintenance plan and improvement plan for the lake and the foreshore area. They will also have to suggest the use of the five percent allotted for commercial purposes and suggest ways to lessen the space for such activities. The board will select the party who, they feel, draws up the best technical plan for the revival and sustenance of the lake. Only those parties will be allowed to be part of the financial bid. One party will be chosen to develop the lake for the assigned lease period and then they have to hand it back to the authority concerned. The implementation, monitoring and maintenance are done by the DC of the district concerned. The LDA only act as facilitators.
A move has been made to keep the lake environment-friendly by using eco-friendly boats like pedal and row boats, and also maintaining 95 percent of the designated area green. Umesh adds "People should be more conscious of their surroundings and not use it as a dump-yard. They should be more co-operative and help in preserving the lakes."
Elsewhere in the State, the Tripurantheshwara Lake in Bidar has been taken up for development by the LDA this year. A tender has been given out for the development of the Kote Tavarekere Lake in Chickmagalur. Meanwhile, the works on the development of the Kundawada Lake in Davangere reached the halfway mark. Both these lakes were taken over last year for development.
Lakes being developed by BDA
Jakkur Lake, Rachenahalli Lake, Venkateshapura Lake, Sampigehalli Lake, Kothnur Lake, Talaghattapura Lake, Konasandra Lake, Sompura Lake, Mallathahalli Lake, Ramsandra Lake, Konaghatta Lake, Ullalu Lake
Lakes being developed by BBMP
Kalkere Lake, Puttenahalli Lake, Allalasandra Lake, Attur Lake, Yelahanka Lake, Kowdenahalli Lake, Chinnappanahalli Lake, Amblipura Lake, Uttarahalli Lake, Dorekere, Dasarahalli Lake, Nayandahalli Lake, Malgal Lake, Deepanjalinagar Lake, Kodigehalli Lake, Hessaraghatta Lake, Chikkabanavara Lake.
Process
Right now, both BDA and BBMP have asked for the lakes. Now they will have to submit the detailed project report (DPR). Once approved by the Government, they will go ahead with the development.
What will be done
Protect the lake boundaries Divert sewage or treat it Remove weeds or silt Provide silt traps, screen barriers (to prevent solid waste from entering the lake through sewage/storm water drains)
Other activities will be taken up based on the capacity of the lake, area and plans drawn up for each lake. BBMP outsources the drawing up of the plans for the development of the lake and the foreshore area to consultants. Once that is approved along with their DPR, they will start the work.