Tasked with building rail road infrastructure in the City, the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) is set to enter the marshland as the State government is contemplating handing over at least 78 lakes to it for rejuvenation.
The issue of handing over 78 lakes to the BMRCL was taken at a meeting where the City in-charge minister Ramalinga Reddy and senior bureaucrats of the State were present, said sources in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).
Of the 78 lakes identified for handing over to the BMRCL, six are with the BBMP and the rest with the BDA. Those with the BBMP are Mahadevapura Lake, Kundalahalli Lake, Challakere Lake, Gollahalli Lake, Kammagondanahalli Lake and Nayandahalli Lake.
These water bodies were previously in the custody of the Lake Development Authority (LDA). The BDA is mulling handing over those lakes which are located all along the BMRCL route.
Sources claimed that the decision was taken because the BMRCL has funds and expertise in civil engineering, which is essential for the lake rehabilitation. It is also learnt that a decision was taken in the meeting to make an additional budgetary provision of Rs 90 crore for lake improvement.
For restoration
Confirming this, Ramalinga Reddy said the government is planning to hand over certain lakes in Bangalore to the BMRCL. “There is a proposal to assign certain lakes to the BMRCL for restoration,” said Reddy.
When contacted, BMRCL spokesperson Yeshwanth Chavan said he has no information about the Government’s decision to give 78 lakes to the BMRCL for rehabilitation.
“We will accept the job if the Government entrusts it to us. Namma Metro has already undertaken rejuvenation of two lakes at Veerasandra near Electronics City and Kengeri Lake,” said the officer.