Doddabidarakallu lake be revived at a cost of Rs 10 cr

After the Deccan Herald report on November 8, 2018 -- ‘Encroachment, dumping of waste threaten sprawling lake’ -- the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) has now decided to revive the fast depleting Doddabidarakallu lake at a cost of Rs 10 crore.

Both Nagasandra and Doddabidarakallu villages share the waterbody off Tumakuru Road in north Bengaluru. Recently, a team of officials visited the lake to inspect the prevailing state of the lake.

After the inspection, the civic body has planned to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to redevelop the lake, and call for tenders for the same.

"After Deccan Herald published the report, BBMP officials along with local residents conducted an inspection. We have noticed that the lake needs urgent redevelopment, hence we have proposed to prepare a DPR and call for tenders to develop the lake.” Ravi, executive engineer, lakes, BBMP, told DH.

“The lake is vast with invasive weeds, shrubs, and bushes. At an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore, we will take up the redevelopment project,” said Ravi.

The Doddabidarakallu lake, with a history of more than 100 years, is connected to the Thippagondanahalli reservoir. After the construction of the STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) near the lake by BWSSB, a project was taken up to revive the lake several years ago. But, the lake has not seen any development in recent years.

“We are happy that the BBMP has finally come out with a plan to revive the lake. Garbage and construction debris have been dumped in the lake bed. The polluted water in the lake has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” Subhash Shetty, an apartment resident near the lake told DH.

“In recent years, several apartments and industries have been discharging sewage into the lake, this has to be stopped immediately,” he added.