ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್‌ Kere Manjunath: Sluice-Gate: BBMP left 46 lakes

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Sluice-Gate: BBMP left 46 lakes

148 lakes have been approved by the government; Only in 102 lakes are getting sluice gate according to BBMP Tender

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್‌

Bengaluru: Although the state government has approved the installation of sluice gates for 148 lakes in the Amrita Nagarothana Project, the BBMP is spending that amount on 102 lakes. 46 lakes have been abandoned.

The reason for the 'East Submerged Bangalore' is the huge amount of water flowing from the lakes. BBMP will spend ₹36.85 crore to construct 'sluice gates' for 102 lakes under its jurisdiction so that if it is controlled, there will be no problem like flooding. BBMP is now constructing a high-tech 'sluice gate', which was constructed in the form of a stone pillar in the past to slowly drain water into the lake.

The city received the heaviest rainfall in September 2022. On this occasion, there was a flood situation in Mahadevpur, Bommanahalli, Yalahanka areas, and a huge amount of damage was caused to the properties of the citizens. Lakes overflowed and water flowed in large quantities. In order to control this and slow down the flow of water, as per the government order (NAE 782 MNY 2022 (E)) BBMP has decided to construct the sluice gates. For this, tenders have been invited in eight packages sector wise and are now in the final stage.

The lakes approved by the government on 28 September 2022 as item number 2 are 148. The cost of how many lakes in which zone has also been entered. However, 46 lakes have been left out in the tender package. The Chief Engineer of Lakes Division at BBMP headquarters does not have complete information. Due to decentralization of powers, the Executive Engineers are calling the tenders.

More spending by legislators!

Local engineers are undertaking the development of lakes only on the permission of the legislators. Although the development work has been approved by the government, the development of some lakes has not yet started. For example Kenchenahalli Lake and Gandhinagar Lake in Kengeri. In the same way, a lot of money is being spent on a few lakes for sluice gates installation,' said T.E., an environmental activist. Srinivas, Mallikarjunaswamy, T. Mohan complained.

Immediate work..

As per the direction of the state government, tenders have been invited from the respective sector wise departments to install sluice gates in the lakes. It is intended that this work should be completed by the rainy season. Therefore, a package tender has been called, BBMP Lakes Division Chief Engineer Vijayakumar Haridas said.

One in approval, another in tender

Tenders have been invited in zone-wise packages for the work of laying sluice gates for lakes. It is stated in the tender that all the lakes in that zone will be installed in the sluice gates. However, the information on file with BBMP is different. There is information about which lakes should be installed in each zone and how much it will cost, there are only 102 lakes in this. That alone will cost ₹38.85 crore sanctioned by the government. Information about the remaining 46 lakes is not in the file.

Approval for installation of sluice gates for 2 and 5 lakes in West and Dasarahalli zones respectively, the information in the file is correct. Elsewhere in the eastern zone, 4 lakes are approved, 3 are listed, 5 out of 7 in the south, 25 out of 38 in Bommanahalli, 40 out of 52 in Mahadevpur, 23 out of 30 in Rajarajeshwarinagar, 14 out of 22 in Yalahanka.

Other expenses are ₹8 crore!

BBMP is spending ₹8.22 crore for the work of sluice gates being installed in 102 lakes as detailed project report, project management advice (to PMC) and other expenses. Usually 10% of the project is given to PMC. That means ₹3.6 crore. The remaining four and a half crores are other expenses.