After years of neglect, Mahadevapura and Kundalahalli lakes in Bengalururu East will get a new lease of life as the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has drawn up a detailed action plan which may cost the Palike exchequer Rs six crore.
The two lakes were initially in the custody of the Lake Development Authority. They were handed over to the BBMP a year ago after the LDA failed to check the flow of effluents into the lakes due to lack of funds.
While water hyacinth is choking the Mahadevapura lake near Bagmane Technology Centre, weeds are showing up in the Kundalahalli lake too which is surrounded by many infotech firms.
After getting the two lakes into its custody, the BBMP prepared a detailed action plan which includes removal of weeds, building the embankment, underground sewage diversion plan, developing stormwater drains for collecting rainwater in the lakes, fencing them and beautifying the surroundings.
A senior Palike engineer said the Palike would invest Rs six crore, which will be spent equally on the two lakes.
Tenders have been called for works on both the lakes and contracts have been allotted to two firms to carry out the works.
“The action plan was prepared in the previous financial year, but the works could not be approved by the council due to the BBMP elections. Now we have to once again table it in the council,” said the engineer.
He added that the proposal was supposed to be tabled in the previous Council meeting, which did not take place. The proposal will be tabled afresh in the end of the month.
According to officials in the Revenue department, the two lakes are not free from encroachment and a detailed survey has to be carried out.
Many structures have come up on the lakes as well as their stormwater drains, which need to be cleared before the lakes can be developed.