Bangalore Recreation - Lakes | Parks | Sports

[gentem]

Bangalore is called Garden city.

Bangalore lacks a river (Arkavathy is very small) or a sea beach. So lakes and parks are major recreation places. Bangalore currently has 100+ lakes, it had 200+ lakes many of which are encroached for development - prominent encroached places: Majestic, KR Market, Kanteerava stadium, National games village. "Kere" means lake in local Kannada language.

Sateesh is current BBMP chief engineer (lakes and parks).

Bangalore's prominent parks:
Lal Bagh (and lake)
Cubbon Park
Bugle rock

Bangalore's prominent lakes:
Ulsoor lake
Sankey tank
Madiwala lake


image copyright Google (Terrain view)

[gentem]

Lakes of bangalore in 1924:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bangalore1924_map.gif

Yelahanka lake to be groomed
TNN, Aug 11, 2010, 03.57am IST

BANGALORE: Mayor S K Nataraj on Tuesday announced that rejuvenation work of Yelahanka lake will be taken up at the cost of Rs 104 crore.

After an inspection of Yelahanka zone, Nataraj said the lake will be developed in 14 months. " BBMP has plans to acquire 22.07 acres of private land in the vicinity of the lake for this project. We are hoping to make provision for toy train, boating, eateries, parking facility, and fountain to attract visitors."

The BBMP further plans to build an island in midst of the lake. "This can be done with the financial support from the BDA," he said.

Besides, a 1.8 km necklace-shaped road will be laid along the lake, he added.

Inspecting the solid waste processing unit established at Yelahanka, the mayor said that similar units will be replicated in each ward and this would be proposed in the upcoming budget.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/c...ow/6289753.cms



http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...an-revive.html


How Iblur residents are saving a lake

Raghava M.

Here's a great example of what can be achieved when government and people work together



COMING BACK TO LIFE:At one point, the Amalipura Lake disappeared from the local geography.

BANGALORE: It is just like what you do when you build your house; stay put and supervise the construction to your requirements, said K. Rajesh Rao, a resident of Trinity Woods.

Mr. Rao is among the many residents from Iblur working to revive the Ambalipura Lake, the oldest among the 34 in the Bommanahalli Assembly Constituency.

“I want the lake restored to its former glory. It is home to 30 species of birds, including the rare Lesser Whistling Duck. The lake must retain its biodiversity,” said Mr. Rao, standing on the rain-soaked bund. Pointing to the hundreds of tadpoles wriggling in the little puddles, he said: “My daughter Mithali and other children in the locality love to play with these tadpoles.”

The lake is one of the 17 water bodies the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is trying to rejuvenate under Project 2 at a cost of Rs. 1 crore.

“We were happy when the BBMP announced the lake's revival. We are working with the authorities to revive the rich biodiversity of this lake,” said Mr. Rao, whose family is one of the 200 residing in Trinity Woods, a condominium that adjoins the lake. They are also part of Forward 150, a federation of resident welfare associations (RWAs) of Bellandur ward working with the BBMP to rejuvenate the lakes.

Where's the lake?

Ambalipura Lake, a 2.9-hectare water body, is encircled by buildings. While Trinity Woods is on one side, the other three are flanked by the Park Vista, Red Wood and Mantri Flora apartments. “This lake could not be traced for many years. The only sign that it existed was the bund where water was accumulating,” said Murali, local resident.

The lake, which was earlier under the Forest Department, almost died at one point of time as the urban sprawl ate into its inlet and outlet streams. Moreover, sewage was being let into it. The rise in water logging and contamination killed nearly 250 acacia trees on the wetland. And the expanse became a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

Panoramic view

“Despite this sorry state, the lake attracted many birds,” said Mr. Rao, showing the videos and pictures of the avian visitors to the lake, which faces his balcony.

The residents, who had brought this condition to the notice of the Forest Department, actively participated in Project 2 when the lakes in their vicinity were selected for rejuvenation. “Our task became easy as the Project 2 team of the BBMP was receptive to our suggestions towards conserving the biodiversity. ,” said Mr. Murali.

Active co-operation

Residents of all the four apartment complexes were involved in bringing several modifications in the detailed project report on the lake. As many as 24 mounds have been created on the wetland, while a big island has been created at the water accumulation point. Residents collected Rs. 1 lakh and bought saplings of 70 different fruit-bearing and other trees that will be planted on the mounds and on the island.

Asked about working with the Government, Mr. Rao said: “If you benefit in the long run, you have to be proactive in all ways. You have to be practical in what you demand and should know what you will reasonably get.”

[gentem]

CM promises Rs 18,872 cr for Bangalore

Express News Service
First Published : 16 Aug 2010 02:33:28 AM IST
Last Updated : 16 Aug 2010 10:04:42 AM IST

BANGALORE: Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa has said `18,872 crore would be spent in the next three years on infrastructure development in Bangalore, which is growing into an international city.

During his Independence Day speech at the Manek Shaw Parade Grounds on Sunday, the chief minister said a blue print for implementation of various infrastructure projects has already been prepared and would be implemented on priority basis.

"Special emphasis is being given to improve infrastructure such as roads, overbridges, underbridges, etc. in the limits of BBMP," he said.

...

In order to increase the ground water table and maintain the cool environment in Bangalore, the BDA has taken up improvement of 25 lakes in the city by spending `200 crore, the CM said.

Yeddyurappa said his government has spent ` 340 corer on providing and improving infrastructure facilities in other cities and towns of the state.

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangal...re/198431.html

[Indian Sun]

Adding to the list,

Agara Lake
Iblur Lake
Hebbal Lake
Bellandur Lake
Lalbagh lake
Hesaraghatta Tank

There's almost a lake for every 3rd locality :-)

[murlee]

Guys!! awesome thread... but plz have some nice pics of all those lakes in the 1st page na... Just a request!

[Mahesh Nanjunda]

Information from BBMP lakes website: www.bbmplakes.info

1 Abbigere kere
2 Agrahara Lake
3 Allalasandra Kere
4 Ambalipura Kere/Haralurkere
5 Amruthalli kere
6 Andrahalli kere
7 Anjanapura kere
8 Arakere
9 Attur Lake
10 B Narayanapura Kere
11 Bagalkunte Kere
12 Basappanakatte Kere
13 Basapura kere(1)
14 Basapura kere(2)
15 Basavanagar
16 Basavanpura kere
17 Begur tank
18 Belandur Tank
19 BEML (opp, DRDO, CV Ramnagar)
20 Bettahalli Kere
21 Bhattrahalli Kere
22 Bhoganahalli Kere
23 Busegowdana kere
24 Byappanahalli Kere
25 Byatagunte Palya Kere (Ramswamy Palya)
26 Byrasandra Kere
27 Chalkere
28 Chick begur tank
29 Chickammanahalli kere
30 Chikkabasavanapura Kere
31 Chikkabellandur Kere
32 Chikkegowdapalya kere
33 Chinnappanahalli Kere
34 Chokkanahalli Kere
35 Chokkanahalli Lake
36 Chokkasandra Kere
37 Chowdeshwari layout kere
38 Countary Club (Inside)
39 Deepanjali kere
40 Devara Beesanahalli Kere
41 Devarakere
42 Devasandra Kere
43 Dodda Banaswadi Kere ( Temple Premisis)
44 Doddakalsandra kere
45 Doddakannenahalli Kere
46 Doddanekkundi Lake
47 Dommasandra Kere
48 Doraikere
49 Dubasipalya kere
50 Gajendra Nagar Kere ( Next to Rly Line) Old Byappanahalli
51 Gangashakti Kere
52 Garepalya Kere
53 Garudachar Palya Kere-1
54 Garudachar Palya Kere-2
55 Gottigere Kere
56 Gowdana Palyakere
57 Gubbalal kere
58 Gunjur Kere
59 Gunjur Kere (Carmelaram kere)
60 Gunjur Kunte
61 Gunjur kunte (Carmelaram kunte)
62 Gunjur Palya Kere
63 H Gollahalli kere
64 Halagevaderahallikere
65 Haralakunte Kere (Somasandrakere)
66 Haralakunte kunte
67 Haralur Kere
68 Harohalli V Nagenahalli Kere
69 Hebbal Kere
70 Herohalli Kere
71 Hoodi Kere-1
72 Hoodi Kere-2
73 Horamavu Agara Kere
74 Horamavu Kere
75 Hosakere
76 Hosakere kere
77 Hosakerehalli kere
78 Hosur Kere
79 Hulimavu kere
80 Ibbalur Kere
81 Jakkur kere
82 Janardhankere
83 Jangashetty kere
84 Jattigarahalli kere
85 Jimkenahalli Kere
86 JP Park ( Mattikere)
87 Kacharakanahalli Kere
88 Kadirenapalya Kere
89 Kadugodi Plantation Kunte(Dinnur kunte)
90 Kaggadasanapura Lake
91 Kaikondahalli Kere
92 Kalakere Rampur Kere
93 Kalena Agrahara kere
94 Kalkere Agara Kere
95 Kalyani / Kunte( Next to Sai Baba Temple)
96 Kamgondanahalli Kere (Ragavendra Lyt)
97 Kammanahalli kere(Meenakshi Kere)
98 Kariobanahalli kere
99 Kasavanahalli Kere
100 Kattiganahalli Kere
101 Kavudenahalli Kere
102 Kelagina kere
103 Kembathnalli kere
104 Kempambudi Kere
105 Kenchanahalli kere
106 Kengeri kere
107 Kodagi Singasandra kere
108 Konankunte kere
109 Konnapana agrahara
110 Kottanurkere
111 KR Puram (BEML)
112 Kudlu chick kere
113 Kudlu dodda kere
114 Kumbena Agrahara Kunte
115 Kundala Halli Kere
116 Kunte ( Near Gopal Enterprises Proposed Resedential Lyt)
117 Lake in Srinidi Lyt (Vidyaranyapura Lake 2)
118 Lake Inside BEL Campus
119 Lalbagh Kere
120 Lingadeeranahalli kere
121 Lingadeeranahalli Kere(Andrahalli)
122 Madivala tank
123 Mahadevpura Kere
124 Mailasandra kere(Sunakal palyakere)
125 Malagala Kere
126 Mallathahalli Kere
127 Malsandi Gudde Kere 1
128 Malsandra Gudde Kere 2
129 Mangammana Palya Kere
130 Munnekolalu Kere
131 Nagarabhavi kere
132 Nagasandra Kere
133 Nagavara Kere
134 Nallurahalli Tank
135 Narasapanhalli kere
136 Narasimha Shastri Kere
137 Nayandalli kere
138 Near Ambedkar College (SMV Lyt)
139 Near Gollarahatti (BEL Lyt)
140 Nelagaderanahalli Kere
141 Nyanappanahalli kere
142 Panathur Kere
143 Parappana Agrahara kere
144 Pattandur Agrahare Kere
145 Peenya I stg ( Near SRS stop)
146 Pillappana Kere
147 Puttenahalli
148 Puttenahalli Kere
149 Puttenhalli/ Bireshwaranagara kere
150 Rachanehalli Kere
151 Rayara Katte
152 Reddypalya Kere
153 Sadaramangal Kere
154 Sanky Tank ( Sadashivnagar)
155 Sarakki kere/ Jaraganahalli / Puttenhalli
156 Shivapura kere
157 Siddapura Kere
158 Sigehalli Kere
159 Singapura Lake
160 Singasandra kere
161 Sitha Ram Palya Kere (Sonnenahalli)
162 Sowlukere
163 Sreenivasapura Kere
164 Srigandada Kaval ( Near Rajiv Gandhi Nagar)
165 Srimanth Kere R Narayanapura
166 Subbarayankere
167 Subedeharanakere
168 Subramanyapura kere
169 Swarnakunte gudda kere
170 Talaghattapurakere
171 Thindlu Lake
172 Thirumenahalli Kere
173 Turahalli kere
174 Ullalu Kere
175 Ulsoor Kere
176 Uttarahalli kere
177 Varahasandra kere
178 Varturu Tank
179 Vengaiah Kere
180 Venkatala Lake
181 Venkatappa Kunte
182 Venkojirao kere (Agarakere)
183 Vidyaranyapura Lake 1
184 Vijanapura Kere
185 Vishwa Nidam Kere
186 Vivekanand Nagar Kere ( Near Rly Track)
187 Yediyur Kere
188 Yelachenahalli Kere
189 Yelahanka Kere
190 Yellenahalli kere

[Indian Sun]

190 !! Are all of them still in good condition ? Garvebhavipalya lake is covered with water hyacinth, it's hard to make out a lake there.

[Mahesh Nanjunda]

Unfortunately no

[gentem]

http://www.bdabangalore.org/


madiwala-agara-bellandur-varthur and hebbal-nagawara-yellamma and hoskote lake are fed to Ponnaiyar river.

vrishabhavati and arkawathy(TG halli dam) are fed with sewage from west of city.. these 2 rivers later join cauvery at sangama/mekedatu

[gentem]

Ten promises that breed hope for Bangalore
Published: Tuesday, Aug 31, 2010, 11:03 IST
By DNA | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

Going green with one park in every assembly constituency
6. A programme, Hasiru Sante (greenery is peace), aims to have one park in every assembly constituency. The budget has earmarked Rs159 crore for maintenance and development of new parks.

Besides, planting five lakh saplings this year, compulsory water harvesting, private partnership for developing parks, Rs98 crore for lake development, and horticulture development in every constituency form the BBMP budget’s green initiatives. This promises to give a fillip to the movement for environmental rejuvenation. Forming a cell to monitor environment is another important step in the green direction.

28 assembly seats in bangalore out of total 224.

[Mahesh Nanjunda]

RWAs will be roped in to maintain rejuvenated water bodies



Above: One of the lakes rejuvenated by the BDA

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will take up 29 more lakes for rejuvenation within the City limits.

The revival of ten of the 12 lakes taken up has almost neared completion, according to BDA Commissioner Bharatlal Meena.

The BDA had taken up revival of the following 12 lakes at an estimated cost of Rs 104.61 crore. Ullal lake (rejuvenation cost: Rs 4.49 cr), Mallathahalli lake (Rs 22.95 cr), Kommaghatta lake (Rs 6.44 cr), Ramasandra lake (Rs 13.4 cr), Thalghattapura (Rs 2.4 cr), Konasandra (Rs 6.1 cr), Sompura (Rs 3.85 cr), Kothnur (Rs 3.6 cr), Jakkur-Sampigehalli (Rs 21.91 cr), Rachenahalli (Rs 19 cr) and Venkateshpura lake (Rs 47 lakh).

Except the Ramasandra and Mallathhalli lake, the rejuvenation of the remaining lakes have been almost completed.

The project has resulted in recharge of the groundwater table in the surrounding areas, Commissioner Meena told presspersons here on Monday.

The BDA will take up revival of 29 more lakes in the city limits. The lakes are: Manganahalli, Nelagadirenahalli, Narasappanahalli, Lingadeeranahalli, Amruthahalli, Gubbala, Hosakerehalli, Doddakallsandra, Avalahalli, Hosakere, Chunchanaghatta, Hulimavu, Arakere, Kembettanahalli, Vasanthapura, Bheemanakuppe, Kenchanapura, Kannenahalli, Chikkabasti, Soolekere, B Narayanapura, Chikkabettahalli, Garavebavipalya, Singasandra, Konanakunte, Byrasandrakere, B Channasandrakere, Kaggadasapura and Doddanekkundi.

The detailed project reports for these lakes are under preparation.

Public participation

Bharatlal Meena said the BDA intends to involve Residents’ Welfare Associations (RWAs) of respective areas to maintain the rejuvenated lakes.
Suggestions would also be invited from the RWAs on protecting the water bodies from encroachment and pollution.

He said these lakes will emerge as tourist spots for the local residents besides providing a choicest destination for birds coming from far-off places.

The BDA has built a silt trap, waste water diversion and screening barriers to Sompura lake. These measures will keep the lake clean round the year, claimed BDA engineer Prakash G Pawar. Konasandra lake, spread over 34.14 acres in BSK 6th Stage, will be restored to its past glory soon. Covered with weeds, the water body was reduced to a small pond before the BDA undertook rejuvenation July last.

DH News Service

[gentem]

Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/...ore-lakes.html


Recharging lakes can help stop flooding

Staff Reporter

Twelve lakes have almost been rejuvenated, say officials

http://hindu.com/2010/09/07/stories/...0761180400.htm

A NEW LEASE OF LIFE:Of the 14 lakes given to it, the BDA has completed 90 p.c. work on 12.

Bangalore: If the Bangalore Development Authority's (BDA) plan to recharge the city's lakes works, it could solve the perennial problem of flooding when it rains.

The BDA, which has almost rejuvenated 12 lakes, has appointed consultants to study the feasibility of channelising rain water — that otherwise accumulates on most roads and low-lying areas — into the lakes.

Talking to presspersons here on Monday, BDA Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena said STUP Consultants had been entrusted with the project. “We are also discussing with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) how to recharge the rejuvenated lakes,” he said.

Mr. Meena asserted that the idea was to treat sewage water and channelise it into the lakes apart from letting rainwater into them. “The city receives so much of rain but we don't know where it disappears. Although some of it flows into the stormwater drains. it ultimately gets mixed with sewage,” he said.

Of the 14 lakes handed over by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to the BDA, 90 per cent of work on 12 had been completed. Work on the remaining two would start soon, he said.

More lakes

Pointing out that the BBMP had handed over 29 more lakes to the BDA for rejuvenation, Mr. Meena said detailed project reports (DPRs) on rejuvenating these water bodies were being prepared. “We will soon invite tenders for the rejuvenation and work is likely to start in three months,” he said.

The lakes would not be handed over to the BBMP soon after the rejuvenation as per the initial agreement. “After the rejuvenation, the cost of which has been scaled down from Rs. 300 crore to Rs. 100 crore, we will maintain the lakes for one year. After spending so much, we want the lakes to survive,” he said.

He added that the local residents' welfare associations and other organisations would be involved in maintaining the rejuvenated lakes.

Earlier, BDA officials, including BDA Deputy Conservator of Forests Amarnath M.V., inspected work on rejuvenation of Sompura, Konasandra, Kommaghatta, Ullal and Mallathahally lakes.

BDA’s ‘dirty’ alternative to fill lakes

Commissioner moots filling up of rejuvenated lakes with treated sewage water before CM can be invited for their inauguration

Niranjan.Kaggere@timesgroup.com

Posted On Tuesday, September 07, 2010 at 05:11:57 AM
http://www.bangaloremirror.com/artic...ill-lakes.html

With the monsoon coming to a close, the Bangalore Development Authority has come up with a ‘novel idea’ for refilling the 13 lakes that it has rejuvenated. It involves filling them up with ‘sewage water’.


BDA plans to seek BWSSB’s help in getting sewage water for refilling the lakes

The BDA, which took up lakes’ rejuvenation work at a cost of Rs 100 crore, plans to refill them with treated sewage water as the rainfall has been inadequate and the authority began cleaning up works three months late.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had kicked off the rejuvenation work on Ullal lake, one of the lakes selected for the clean-up operation, on May 27, 2009. During inauguration, he had said, “I assure you that by end of 12 months, I will be back to inaugurate the lake for public use.”

The BDA is trying hard to refill the lakes before Yeddyurappa can be invited for the inauguration. Hence, it is looking at Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) for help (refilling the lakes).

Though a few lakes have received good spells of rains, the water has not been enough to fill them. When asked about the mammoth task of refilling the tanks in view of the monsoon coming to a close, BDA Commissioner Bharat Lal Meena said, “If we don’t get sufficient rains, we can get it from BWSSB. There’s a lot of sewerage and it can be treated and released into these tanks. We are in talks with the BWSSB and hopeful of getting sufficient amount of water.”

The BDA is yet to complete the rejuvenation work. Ninety per cent of the work has been completed, while some minor works - fencing, laying of pavements for walkers and planting of saplings - still remain. Meena says these would be completed at the earliest. Water-logging was common in the city during rains. But the BDA promises that it would not happen again. “One of the reasons for not getting sufficient water in these lakes is because many areas become waterlogged during the rains. We are studying the pattern of water flow and trying to make sure the water collected in the catchment areas reach the lakes. The task will be outsourced to an independent agency,” said Meena.

Caretakers for lakes
After the rejuvenation, the BDA has to hand over the lakes to the BBMP for maintenance. However, the handover is unlikely to happen for the next one year. “We cannot tell when we will hand over these lakes to the BBMP. We scaled down some of the ornamental works, thinking that it could be taken up at a later stage. Within a year, we will complete that and till then, we will maintain the tanks. But we will discuss this matter with the BBMP,” he said.

The commissioner also said the locals and villagers will be included in committees for the safe management of lakes.

Revival for 29 lakes
The BDA has been entrusted with the task of rejuvenating another 29 lakes. A decision in this regard was taken by the BBMP officials in May-June this year.

“Though an official government order is yet to come, we will be taking up the survey work to prepare a detailed project report. If all goes well, in the next three months, we will commence work on all the 29 lakes,” said a top official of the
Bangalore Development Authority.

This time monsoon was weak in bangalore, so none of the rejuvenated lakes filled up It will take 3 years to fill only by rain Sewage they can let in instead

[naveen_blr]

Link the lakes through channels, say experts

Even as the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) looks satisfied with its efforts to rejuvenate 12 lakes, experts are critical of the programme. They say the ideal way to go about the task is to enhance the connectivity to the lakes, as it was done earlier.
The BDA dried up the lakes completely to clear the silt. Ring tank bunds were created around to give them a distinctive shape. Though the depth increased, the size of lakes shrank. Encroachments were cleared in all BDA lakes, while wetlands and water inlets had been channelled. What remained now, according to BDA officials, is fencing, afforestation, water to fill in, construction of boat jetties and construction of sewerage treatment plants in Kommaghatta and Malathahalli.
But experts suggested creation of treatment plants in all the lakes. The flow of water should be well directed, keeping in mind the upstream and downstream, they felt.
Hasiru Usiru member Rohan D'Souza was dissatisfied by the way Rachenahalli lake structure was designed. "The idea of feeding other water bodies by channelling the overflow has not been looked into," lamented D'Souza.
"Here the BDA has completely dried up the lake. This hampered the biodiversity and also had a cascading effect," said D'Souza.
"The BDA should ensure that the plants in the wetlands are cut once in three months so that the quality of water remains good. Charcoal and carbon notches should also be maintained periodically," said Prof Sriram, who has been guiding BDA on lake rejuvenation.
Environmentalist AN Yellappa Reddy said proper infiltration should be ensured to increase the underground water table.
He added that it would take at least one or two years to restore the required dynamics of the lakes. Biodiversity elements are already being incorporated with the introduction of guppies, weeds and sediments.

http://epaper.dnaindia.com/dnabangal...e=2%2f1%2f2010

[nandan_ks]

CC: My friend, Sandeep

image hosted on flickr

[nandan_ks]

Dr. D.V.G memorial at Bugle Rock park

image hosted on flickr

[think-tank]

Sankey Tank

Lalbagh Lake


Source: wiki

[NParry]

Great pictures of Bugle Rock Park... so well kept.

[gentem]

Ganesha idol immersion is still far from eco-friendly in Bangalore
Published: Monday, Sep 13, 2010, 10:22 IST
By Bosky Khanna | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

There were advertisements and promotional material urging Bangaloreans to get the eco-friendly Ganesha idol. On Saturday, however, there was little evidence that any of those messages found takers.

Waste of all kinds — organic and inorganic — was found in abundance at the sites where the idols were being immersed. Roads leading to the lakes were muddy, and flowers, plastic bags and things to eat were lying strewn all over.

Annmary, a foreign tourist visiting the Ulsoor Lake to witness the
festivities remarked, “Is the water always like this here? It seems quite chaotic.” The smell of rotting garbage hung heavy.

Although officials had urged people to refrain from conducting
pujas at the lake before the immersion of the idol, many were seen conducting poojas at Ulsoor Lake. At Hebbal, Yedur, Sampigehalli, Kothnur, Konasandra, Thalghattapura, Ullal, Komaghatta and Lalbagh lakes too, the sights and smells were not very different.
... http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/re...galore_1437162

[naveen_blr]

They survived four centuries with benevolent population nurturing them. And it took just four decades to destroy them by a generation not known for balance of life. We are referring to the lakes of Bangalore which have become victims of growth.
Available documents suggest that water bodies in Bangalore (natural lakes, man made lakes or tanks) became part of Bangalore's right from 16th century. In 1960s there were nearly 250 lakes. Today there are only 30 which seem to have some kind of water mass.
This mass of water, unfortunately is nothing but dirty water released from our homes and industries. It does not support any life but breeds toxins.
The government has started a project to rejuvenate number of lakes. Various agencies are involved in this huge task. The main aim is to clean the lakes and facilitate abundance of ground water supply.
Last week the BDA took a Press party around some of the lakes to show their definition of development. Main refrain of officials was that the lakes would be turned into tourist spots both for the public and birds. Well, there is nothing new in this plan.
BDA commissioner Bharatlal Meena also promised to involve Residents' Welfare Associations in the upkeep of the lakes. In the bureaucratic way he said that suggestions would be invited from the RWAs in the protection of the lakes from encroachment and pollution.
The BDA had taken up revival of a dozen lakes at an estimated cost of Rs104.61 crore. Did the BDA take any opinion of the public in this development? Was any suggestion worthy of being included in the project?
Lakes are not just tourist spots. As we have been advocating, lakes should serve as cultural hotspots. They should nurture mental and physical health. Each lake should have a theme, in terms of flora and fauna; and in cultural hues.
For example, Ulsoor lake has strong affinity towards the armed forces with MEG involved in its upkeep. It should ideally house a war memorial and other measures to promote patriotism. Same way, each lake should have a single flavour of either promotion of drama or a promenade for paintings with an art gallery. If we can summon cultural ties of each lake with its surroundings, the lake can reflect the local tradition and culture.
This is where Meena requires our involvement. We do not want to be mere tourists. We want to contribute substantially, not after the government builds the structure, but in the planning stage and as well as in execution of it.
Even now nothing is lost if we can conserve and build a lakeside culture like the great river basin cultures of the Indus and Cauvery.

[gentem]

What we we we our involvement they are cribbing... They are given multiple representatives - corporator, mla, mp etc. They should convince or coerce their representatives first.

But the point is lakes have disappeared near center of bangalore - evident from first post map. Also vijaynagar-rajajinagar-nagarbhavi region doesnt have a lake. Ground water will be very less in that area - some big park there can be converted into a manmade lake.