WATER BODIES WON'T BE AN EYESORE

By Paawana Poonacha

The national River Conservation Project will restore Nagawara, Vengaiahnakere, Sarakki and Kamakshipalya Lakes with two-and-a-half years. The Centre will chip in with 70% of the cost, while the state will contribute the rest.

The national Lake Conservation Project (NLCP) is finally pumping life into the city's degenerating lakes. As part of the national River Conservation Project, four lakes - Nagawara, Vengaiahnakere, Sarakki and Kamakshipalya - have been identified by the NLCP for restoration and rejuvenation.

Pegged at a restoration cost of Rs. 12.35 crore, the Centre has agreed to chip in 70 percent of the total cost, while it seeks that state agencies contribute the rest, within a scheduled deadline of two-and- half years.

" This is the first time the NLCP has identified lakes on their development projects in the state," Deputy Conservator of Forests Vijay Kumar Gogi told The Times of India.

Another funding agency under the Indo-Norwegian Environment project (INEP) has identified restoration of Doddabommasandra Lake at a cost of Rs. 2.3 crore. The INEP, with its earlier aid, contribution to the restoration of Hebbal and Madiwala alkes in the city.

In all, the forest department will now initiate developmental works on five lakes in the city.

Explaining the priority given to NLCP-funded lakes over others, Gogi said, "Bangalore is a city with over 128 lakes amidst thick habitation. Three major river systems Hrishbhavathi, Chellaghatta and Hebbal contain a chain of streamlets linked to each other."

Since all the lakes are interlinked and have a bearing on other lakes as well, sewage treatment and setting up of diversion channels must begin with the lakes from the top most level.

"Based on their location in the river system and their tourism potential it's now the restoration of these four lakes which take priority," Gogi explained.

Nagawara lake, situated next to Hebbal tank and vengaiahnakere (K.R. Puram big tank) near Hoskote, belong to the Hebbal chain.

While Kamakshipalyakere on Magadi road is located in the Hrishbhavathi chain, sarakki tank in J.P. Nagar belongs to the Chellaghatta chain.

Of the 114 lakes entrusted to the forest department for restoration in the city, Gogi noted that 25 fresh water lakes have already been tackled by setting up fences and creating vegetation boundaries with afforestation programmes.