ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್‌ Kere Manjunath: ₹2,000 crores spent on development of Bengaluru city lakes

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

₹2,000 crores spent on development of Bengaluru city lakes

Not free from dirty, pollution
Unimproved water quality
No eco-friendly atmosphere
Biodiversity is not emphasized
Preference for civil works
Walking-jogging path, high cost for beautification

₹2,000 crores spent on development of Bengaluru city lakes

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Although there is a lot of confusion between the district administration and the BBMP about the number of living lakes in the 'City of Lakes', the BBMP has spent more than ₹2000 crore for the development of 156 lakes.

There are 211 lakes under BBMP and only 156 lakes are under development since 2010. Although crores have been spent on each lake, it is not only free from dirt and filth. The developed lakes are being spent again and again. 29 lakes which have not seen the least development are still in the planning stage.

In 2008, the state government handed over the development of the lakes to BBMP and BDA. After showing a cost of Rs 100 crore for the development of 12 lakes, the BDA offered no money. Again the development and maintenance of all the lakes fell on the shoulders of BBMP. BBMP has spent nearly two thousand crores, even though they say, there is no money.

Till 2018-19, BBMP has spent more than three hundred crore rupees for the development of 65 lakes. More crores have been spent on the front lines again for these developed lakes.

Development of lakes requires the approval of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) from the Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA). Thus, from 2018-19 to 2022-23, BBMP and BDA have approved DPRs worth over ₹1,427 crore. After this, more than this cost was also spent on the works.

BBMP is not officially saying that this amount has been spent. However, the values of 'Restoration of Lakes' published by the Corporation and DPRs approved by KTCDA reveal the cost information.

Which lake costs more?

Lake; Cost (₹ in crores)
Kalkere Rampur; 61.46
Sankey; 46.92
Kalkere; 44.22
Yalahanka; 35.44
Mallattahalli; 31.5
(Retaining Wall+Lake Bed – Pathway)
Doddabidarakallu; 27.50
Gandhinagar Hoskere; 28.60
Doddanekkundi; 29.90
JP Park – Mattikere; 25.36
Gunjur Mango Lake; 20
Dore Kere; 18.21
Abbigere; 18.02
Kempambudhi; 17.31
Karihobanahalli (Narasappanahalli); 17
Chikkabegur; 16.92
Halasur; 15.17
Konappa Agrahara;13.87
Vengaiyanakere; 13.80
Singapura; 13.60
Kannur; 13.26
Garvebavi Palya; 13
Junnasandra; 12.60
Hosakere – Halekere Nelakadirenahalli; 10.29
Kacharakanahalli; 10.11
Kadusonnappanahalli; 10.15
Begur; 10

₹2322.55 crore: Total Cost (BBMP+BDA)

₹1891.94 crore: Total expenditure by BBMP

₹1405.28 crore: Amount in DPR approved from 2018-19 to 2022-23 (99 lakes)

₹359.81 crore: Expenditure incurred from 2010-11 to 2017-18 (65 lacs)

₹50 lakh: for installation of CC TV cameras in 75 lakes

₹36.85 crore; for installation of embankment for 102 lakes

₹470.61 crore: Cost of BDA

₹104.61 crore; Development of 12 lakes

₹366 crore– Bellandur Lake (₹248 crore) & Varthur Lake (₹118 crore)

211 Total lakes

202 Being under BBMP

5 In custody of BDA

4 In custody of Forest Department

114 out of 202 lakes – developed

41 are under development

1- Tender is in process;

27 – to be developed;

19– Unusable Lakes

Concrete Tank: IISC

The lakes that have been developed at a cost of thousands of crores in Bengaluru are not sites for protecting and cultivating biodiversity but are 'concrete tanks' where civil works have been carried out. There is no clean water in these lakes. The study report of the Indian Institute of Science said that it is full of dirt.

In the report submitted by Gautham and Vasantha Jagadeesan under the leadership of Prof. T.V. Ramachandra, emphasis was placed on how the funds should be used for the rejuvenation or development of the lakes. Not realizing the value of the lake, scientific works are said to have been neglected.

By not putting out the polluted silt in the lake, it has been made like an island and the clean water has been allowed to get polluted. After the development of the lake, no works have been done to prevent sewage water from flowing into it. A study report on 'Status of Restored Lakes in Bengaluru: Gaps and Solutions' states that a 'cement bowl' has been created by the development work of the lakes, and a lot of expenditure has been spent on jogging, walking paths, beautification, and no work has been done to revitalize the lake environment.

₹ 46 crore for Sankey!

₹46.92 crore has been spent on Sankey Lake, which was in the list of developed lakes as early as 2010, from 2019-20. Although the encroachment of the lake has not been cleared, beautification works are increasing. Mallattahalli Lake is planned to cost ₹80 crore, of which a lot has already been released. DPR alone has been approved for ₹31.5 crore.

Rachenahalli, Kempambudhi, Kalkere, Jakkuru, Kaikondrahalli, Dorekere, Seegehalli, Singhasandra, Kodige Singhasandra, Yalahanka, Yalachenahalli, Attur, Doddabommasandra, Garudacharapallya, J.P. Park Mattikere, Lingadhiranahalli, Sanki, Vibhutipur lakes have been spent more than once for the development of crores of rupees. However, even today those lakes are not clean.