The Agara lake in the city, for long choked by contamination, will soon breathe easy. The waterbody, lying between Koramangala and HSR Layout, will sport a refurbished look by the end 2017.
Work is on in full swing to clear the 95-acre lake of the large swathes of weeds covering whatever water is left there. The cleaning process will follow a number of steps - dewatering, desilting, construction of bund and others. The rejuvenation project has been undertaken by the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA) with the support of the Agara Lake Protection and Management Society (ALPMS), a registered public society of citizens interested in the development of the lake.
ALPMS has been working closely with the government authority for the restoration of the waterbody. The first phase of the revival project is almost complete. Works under the second phase include construction of a cycle track, walkway and beautification are expected to start soon.
Munivenkatappa G N, president of ALPMS, said the total project cost was between Rs 14 crore and Rs 15 crore.
“During 2009–2012, the lake deteriorated at an alarming rate. In 2012, the court directed KLCDA to hand over the management of the lake to an NGO/public trust with active participation of neighbourhood welfare groups. ALPMS joined the efforts in 2013. Since then, various initiatives have been taken to improve the lake, with the support of the stakeholders,” said Suresh B Bhadraiah, the ALPMS secretary.
KLCDA sources said they had floated tenders in January 2016 for the development and rejuvenation of the lake which comes under Begur hobli, Bengaluru South taluk.