BDA to rejuvenate some city lakes

BDA to rejuvenate some city lakes
The BDA will take up rejuvenation of 12 lakes in the city to transform them into recreation spots, says Leena Mudbidri


In a move towards reviving the dying lakes around the city, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) Commissioner H Siddaiah recently launched the lakes rejuvenation programme from the Rachenahalli lake premises. Twelve water bodies in the city entrusted to the BDA will be developed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) scheme.
During a meeting of the Lake Development Authority (LDA) under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka, held in July last year, it was decided that the BDA will take up the overall development of 12 lakes coming within four layouts in the city.
They are:
Arkavathy Layout Jakkur Lake Sampigehalli Lake Rachenahalli Lake Venkateshpura Lake
Anjanapura Layout Kothnur Lake
Banashankari 6th Stage
Thalaghattapura Lake Konasandra Lake Sampura Lake
Sir M V Layout Mallathahalli Lake Ullal Lake
Kommaghatta Lake
Ramsandra Lake
Regarding the progress made in the execution of the development works, Amarnath M V, Deputy Conservator of Forests, BDA, said, "The preparation of the detailed project reports (DPR) on three lakes - Ullal, Kommaghatta, and Mallathahalli - has been entrusted to Dr R Venkataraman, BDA consultant and retired chief engineer, ISRO. The DPR for Ullal Lake is completed and the other two are under preparation and will be submitted shortly."
The preparation of the DPR for the rest of the lakes has been entrusted to a private agency on a tender basis. The survey and collection of sediment and water for testing has been completed and the DPRs for all the lakes will be submitted soon.
According to Amarnath, the DPRs for all the lakes will be submitted to the Chief Executive Officer and Member Secretary of the LDA for onward submission to the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development Finance Corporation for posing the projects under JNNURM. In its budget for the coming financial year, the BDA has earmarked Rs 25 crores for the lake rejuvenation programme.
Lake development
features
Proposed improvements to the lakes as listed in the DPR Removal of weeds Desilting the lake bed Construction of inlet and outlet channels Construction of RCC waste weir Preparation of constructed wetland at the inlet zone of the lake Increasing the top width and side-slopes of the lake bed
Construction of the ring bunds on three sides of the lake
Providing chain-link fencing on three sides of the lake to avoid encroachment Construction of size stone masonry open drains, paallel to ring bunds to divert surface water
Construction of RCC leap weir and diversion sewer for inlet channels Construction of two silt traps for inlet channels Terracing and levelling the sides of the lakes from ring bund upto road level Construction of two boat jetties and supply of pedal boats Providing light poles Landscaped gardens, footpaths, lakeside restaurant, ornamental lighting, approach roads Provision of alum dosing stations Fisheries management Formation of Lake and Watershed Area Improvement committee The objective of the lake rejuvenation programme is to plan, design and prepare the lakes in such a way as to prevent and control lake pollutants from various sources such as sewage water.