37 city lakes rejuvenated in five years; Rs 65 crore spent, claims BBMP

Bengaluru: Fifteen lakes have been developed and over 37 lakes rejuvenated at a cost of Rs 65 crore since 2013, said the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagare Palike (BBMP).

The Palike, in association with several lake groups, NGOs, RWAs and corporate companies, has also ensured that no chemical pollutants enter these lakes. A senior BBMP officer said, "We have diverted the sewage and fenced the lakes. There are other lakes that need to be rejuvenated, and recently, we received the approval for developing five lakes." But after the state government passed an amendment to hand over lakes to the minor irrigation department, which was approved by Governor Vajubhai Vala, there is no clarity on whether the BBMP or the Karnataka Lake Development Authority (KLCDA) will take up the remaining works.

The BBMP, taking advantage of CSR initiatives of several corporate companies, has installed Sewage Treatment Plants (STP) at several lakes. In December, GE Healthcare along with United Way Bengaluru installed an STP of 280 KLD capacity.

It is also planting 5,000 trees in the vicinity and the BBMP has fenced the lake to prevent dumping construction debris and garbage. More than Rs 65 crore were spent in rejuvenating the lakes.