Green plans: Model layout will get back lakes

Green plans: Model layout will get back lakes
Wednesday April 16 2008 10:07 IST

Bosky Khanna
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BANGALORE: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will restore the existing 12 water bodies at the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout, which was recently approved. The aim is to make this a model layout for future development.

This initiative of the BDA comes in the wake of many lakes like the Sarakki Agrahara Lake (Doresamipalya), the Chinnagara Lake and the Domlur Lake drying out due to urbanisation.

The BDA will restore the 12 lakes in the layout as parks for rain water harvesting. This is expected to be a solution to the water scarcity in the 4,814.15- acre layout.

This is in addition to the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) sanctioning 900 million litres of water daily to the new layouts.

BDA Commissioner Siddhaiah told this website’s newspaper that the agency wants to restore water bodies with the help of local civic bodies.

“The City’s lung spaces are dwindling, and were compromised for developing roads, layouts and other projects. We want to ensure they are restored," he said.

"Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Layout will be Bangalore’s only layout to have a large number of live tanks, which will be restored in their existing dimension. The lakes include Kommanghatta, Ullal, Malathali, Elekodehalli and Ramenahalli.”

Environmentalist Suresh Heblikar added that Bangalore South has many water bodies, a few of which house a large number of migratory birds. Their restoration is important to conserve bird populations. The lakes also help in curtailing extremes in temperature.

A Lake Development Authority official, on condition of anonymity, said many lakes were lost due to pressure from some civic agency officials for infrastructure.

The official said: “I am not certain how long the zeal for this plan will continue. In the past, many lakes were intentionally dried out to allow construction work.”