What gulped our lakes?

What gulped our lakes?



Kavitha KushalappaFirst Published : 15 Dec 2009 05:10:00 AM ISTLast Updated : 15 Dec 2009 11:20:16 AM IST
BANGALORE: Bangalore’s lakes it seems was largely vanquished by the quencher itself.
In sweeping statements that indicts both the planners and the citizens, a wayforward plan on restoration of lakes in Bangalore notes that the “genesis of lakes destruction” in the city was the introduction of Cauvery water supply in the mid 1970s and that the breaching of tanks done under the Malaria eradication programme was like “cutting one’s nose for catching cold.” Titled “Nisarga, the Rs 985-crore Action Plan for the development of the city’s lakes makes for yet another project report or documentation by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike. The importance of the lakes was lost due to the “myopic approach” and “mis-conceptualised” understanding of the urban planners, reads the report. (read box) There are encroachments, sewage load in the core area, lack of underground drainage lines in the extended areas, the migrants, the homeless and more that the lakes of the city have to contend with, it points out.
And in official terms, that makes, drinking water-wise, the return to the city’s lakes “very far fetched.” There are even “notified slums” on these lake beds, said engineers handling the lakes revival programme. The task at hand is to “instill life back in these water bodies” and provide for the “recharge of ground water,” they said.
Finding funds
With some 19 other infrastructure projects pending for Central funding under JN-NURM, the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation has decided to pitch in for restoration of lakes.
In October, KUIDFC agreed to loan BBMP a sum of Rs 100 crore under the Mega City plan.
The loan is specific to the Rs 337 crore project for 21 lakes that were originally listed for revival.