Recharging lakes can help stop flooding

Recharging lakes can help stop flooding

Staff Reporter
Twelve lakes have almost been rejuvenated, say officials


A NEW LEASE OF LIFE:Of the 14 lakes given to it, the BDA has completed 90 p.c. work on 12.
Bangalore: If the Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA) plan to recharge the city's lakes works, it could solve the perennial problem of flooding when it rains.

The BDA, which has almost rejuvenated 12 lakes, has appointed consultants to study the feasibility of channelising rain water — that otherwise accumulates on most roads and low-lying areas — into the lakes.

Talking to presspersons here on Monday, BDA Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena said STUP Consultants had been entrusted with the project. “We are also discussing with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) how to recharge the rejuvenated lakes,” he said.

Mr. Meena asserted that the idea was to treat sewage water and channelise it into the lakes apart from letting rainwater into them. “The city receives so much of rain but we don't know where it disappears. Although some of it flows into the stormwater drains. it ultimately gets mixed with sewage,” he said.

Of the 14 lakes handed over by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to the BDA, 90 per cent of work on 12 had been completed. Work on the remaining two would start soon, he said.

More lakes

Pointing out that the BBMP had handed over 29 more lakes to the BDA for rejuvenation, Mr. Meena said detailed project reports (DPRs) on rejuvenating these water bodies were being prepared. “We will soon invite tenders for the rejuvenation and work is likely to start in three months,” he said.

The lakes would not be handed over to the BBMP soon after the rejuvenation as per the initial agreement. “After the rejuvenation, the cost of which has been scaled down from Rs. 300 crore to Rs. 100 crore, we will maintain the lakes for one year. After spending so much, we want the lakes to survive,” he said.

He added that the local residents' welfare associations and other organisations would be involved in maintaining the rejuvenated lakes.

Earlier, BDA officials, including BDA Deputy Conservator of Forests Amarnath M.V., inspected work on rejuvenation of Sompura, Konasandra, Kommaghatta, Ullal and Mallathahally lakes.