BENGALURU, Karnataka: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) announced its plan to revive 185 lakes within the Bengaluru city limits over the next four years.
Preeti Gehlot, the Commissioner of Forest, Environment, and Climate Change (FECC) at BBMP, mentioned that Bengaluru is home to 202 lakes within the BBMP jurisdiction, while the remaining 17 lakes are either unsuitable for rejuvenation or have been extensively encroached upon.
“There are several challenges that we face including encroachment, sewage inflow, solid waste dumping etc. In certain cases, there is chemical inflow as well. These factors, along with inadequate funding and lack of staff and interdepartmental synergy affect proper planning,” she stated.
Gehlot also highlighted the lack of technical knowledge including proper understanding of the geography and geotechnical aspects that contribute to the slow development of lake rejuvenation.
“We have also set up a Bangalore Climate Action Plan within BBMP to work on a comprehensive plan to take up initiatives that have long-term effects. Seven sectors that we have identified to work on include transportation, energy and building, solid waste, water and wastewater, air quality, urban planning, greening and biodiversity, and disaster resilience,” Gehlot said.
She added that BBMP has submitted its Community Involvement Lake Conservation Policy 2024 to the High Court which on approval will soon be rolled out to the public.
“While we await approval from the honorable high court, we are inviting corporates, individual bodies, or resident welfare associations to come forward with proposals to contribute in terms of assets and maintenance for the preservation and rejuvenation of lakes in the city. Beautification is not the priority. Proposals must have clarity of funding along with the backing of a technical team, for us to start the screening process. Our focus is entirely on implementation. With proper planning along with various stakeholders in the next three to four months, we can make significant contributions towards solving the water crisis from a lakes perspective” the Commissioner said.