Seven lakes in Bengaluru set for revival; civic groups urge scientific vigilance

The Hindu

a day ago

Seven lakes in Bengaluru may finally be brought to life by November, as the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is currently in the final stages of their rejuvenation, according to a progress report reviewed by The Hindu.
However, environmental activists and civic volunteers have raised concerns about possible oversights that could harm the ecological balance of these water bodies and undermine years of rejuvenation efforts.
The lakes approaching completion include Kacharakanahalli Lake, Hulimavu Lake, Doddabidarakallu Lake, Gunjur Mouji Lake, Carmalaram Lake, Hoodi Giddanakere, and Vengaiahnakere (K.R. Puram Lake).
Vijaykumar Haridas, Chief Engineer, Lakes, confirmed that these projects will be completed by November or by December. Except for Kacharakanahalli Lake, most are nearly finished, with only minor works like pedestrian pathways and fencing remaining, he said. After rejuvenation, all seven lakes will fall under Category D - water quality fit for wildlife and fisheries.
Spanning over 240 acres collectively, these lakes have faced significant delays, some extending across five monsoons. Community groups, which have been advocating for their revival for years, now hope to see ecological restoration, including the return of nesting birds and revival of fisheries.
Community expectations
Mithan Subbiah, lead volunteer at Hulimavu Kere Taranga, noted that nearly 140 bird species have been spotted at Hulimavu Kere, a 100-acre lake excluding encroachments, according to data from eBird.
Activists have pointed out that lake rejuvenation tends to be human-centric, focusing on beautification and recreation rather than ecological purpose. Ironically, they say, even this approach is often inconsistently executed. For example, work on Hulimavu Kere only accelerated after the area experienced severe flooding, attracting public attention and criticism of BBMP.
V. Ramprasad, of Friends of Lakes, emphasised that proper rejuvenation should meet three main objectives: improving groundwater, facilitating rainwater harvesting, and flood mitigation. 'Several lakes lack sluice gates and sewage treatment plants, which hampers these goals and reduces the work to beautification,' he said. He stressed that lakes should only be considered rejuvenated if they are managed under proper Standard Operating Procedures and meet BIS 17663 standards.
Concerns on the ground
Zibi Jamal, a volunteer at Whitefield Rising, expressed relief as the Hoodi Giddanakere lake is finally nearing completion. 'Recent reports of algal blooms in rejuvenated lakes across the city are concerning. The contractor for this project must ensure there are no scientific lapses in the rejuvenation process that could lead to algal blooms or other environmental issues,' Ms. Jamal said.
Meanwhile, Hulimavu Kere, the largest among the seven lakes, faces issues of open defecation in surrounding areas. Ms. Subbiah believes proper fencing on specific sides of the lake is needed.
Mr. Ramprasad pointed out extensive encroachments at Kacharakanahalli Lake. As per 1976 records, the lake originally covered 56 acres, but only 16 acres remained when rejuvenation began.
Nithya, the executive engineer overseeing the project, said that some encroachments, including a private sports complex and slum board structures, have been cleared, increasing the lake area to 22 acres. BBMP is coordinating with the Slum Development Board to recover more land.
According to official data, 435 huts, housing around 1,600 people, are situated in the encroached area. Ashok D.R., Commissioner of the Karnataka Slum Development Board, said these families will be rehabilitated to government housing in Bidarahalli, built by the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation. BBMP will cover 70% of the cost of the new housing.
In addition to these seven lakes, BBMP is also rejuvenating over 20 more lakes with a budget of ₹50 crore. Another ₹65 crore, allocated under the National Disaster Mitigation Fund (NDMF), will be used to rejuvenate seven additional lakes: Hebbal, Nagawara, Sompura, Chikkabellandur, Arekere, Halsur, and Kalkere lakes.