BDA is all set to take up the survey of lakes in the city, for reviving them.
Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is all set to take up the survey of lakes around Bangalore city to identify the encroachments made by the influential and land mafia across 78 lakes in the city. This has been done in accordance with the direction of Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar with an expenditure of Rs50 crore.
CM Shettar also ordered for an estimate to be prepared on undertaking the installation of fencing to protect the boundaries of the lakes. However, JD (S) leader M Srinivas, termed the whole exercise as an eye wash by the government. “I have personally visited lakes. Identifying encroachments is taken up in third phase, nothing is being done in the first and second phases,” he said.
The ambitious project comes as part of the comprehensive plan of the ruling BJP government to rejuvenate and conserve 183 lakes around Bangalore. Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) manages 55 lakes, while as many as 123 lakes have been handed over to the BDA for development, by the Forest department. The BDA has taken up the development of 123 lakes in three phases, with an estimated cost of Rs159.71 crore.
JD (S) MLC M Srinivas had earlier questioned the government with regard to conservation of lakes. He also pointed out that despite the government investing huge amounts of money in rejuvenation projects, it had failed to achieve the desired goals. “Is it tenable to spend such huge money on protecting lakes which have been around since ages. Think of how many more lakes could have been created with such a whopping amount,” he exclaimed.
According to statistics provided by CM Shettar, fencing work around Panathur lake in Bangalore East and Meenakshi lake in Bangalore South, were being completed after removal of all encroachments. With regards to Siddapura lake, a letter had been written to the Tehsildar for early eviction of encroachments by BEML Layout. The lake is now partially fenced, Shettar said in his reply to a question raised during the recent budget session of state legislature.
In the first phase, BDA completed the development work of as many as 12 lakes including Rachenahalli lake, Jakkur & Sampigehalli lake, Ullal lake, Thalaghattapura lake as on January 26, this year. The work of Doddabidarakallu lake is still pending.
In the second phase, 32 more lakes would be fenced. The work had been completed of 15 lakes, with work being under progress for another 17 lakes. The third phase will include identification of encroachment of lakes, CM Shettar explained, in a detailed written reply.
CM Shettar argued that the lakes developed by the BBMP were in good condition and water has been stored in these lakes. The lakes developed by BDA were also functioning well, and there has been no problem as far as managing these lakes was concerned, he added.
The development of several lakes including, Sankey Tank, were done at an estimated cost of about `62 crore in the last three years. However, MLC Srinivas claimed the government was projecting wrong information regarding the lakes in Bangalore.
@ ashimysore
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