Lakes of Bengaluru: Among largest of city’s water bodies, 200-year-old Jakkur Lake has its own integrated wetland

Spread across 160 acres and with a depth of three metres, Jakkur Lake is among the largest of the man-made water bodies in Bengaluru. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

Elaborating on efforts for the lake’s restoration, Dr Annapurna S Kamath, founder of Jalaposhan Trust which was formed to restore and maintain the lake, said, “There was no problem with the lake till 2006, but urbanisation took a toll on the water body in 2007. The lake started receiving untreated sewage and became a ground for open defecation. The Lake Development Authority transferred it to Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) in 2008 which started restoration of Jakkur Lake. The restoration was carried out from 2008 to 2012, but after it was restored, there was nobody to maintain the lake. It was during this time that construction debris was dumped in the lake.”

Treated water from a sewage treatment plant (STP) enters this wetland before emptying into the lake. This purifies the treated water further. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

The overflow from Jakkur lake feeds the downstream lakes of Rachenahalli and Nagawara. The lake is free of encroachments. (Express Photo by Jithendra M)

After BDA officials said they could not maintain the lake, Kamath approached the civic body, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). “We approached the BBMP and its officials asked us if there was a citizens’ group to take care of the lake. By that time the BBMP had several lakes under its custody and along with a citizens’ group they had already restored Puttenahalli lake. In 2014, the lake was transferred to the BBMP. It was then that the Jalaposhan Trust was formed,” she added.

The trust signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the BBMP in 2014 under which the civic body would concentrate on major developments at the lake and the trust could raise funds to carry out activities like plantation and monthly maintenance. After the lake was transferred to the civic body, it was developed and continues to be maintained by the trust.

“We raise funds through CSR or donations from corporate bodies and the public. With these funds we carry out activities such as Vanamahotsav, where the public can plant saplings,” she said.

Integrated wetland for added purification

Kamath believes Jakkur lake is a model for other lake rejuvenation projects. In a first, scientists at the IISc created an integrated wetland at the lake. Treated water from a sewage treatment plant (STP) enters this wetland before emptying into the lake. This purifies the treated water further.

Convener of Environmental Information System (ENVIS) at the Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES) in IISc and the scientist who constructed the integrated wetland, Dr T V Ramchandra said, “The integrated wetland system at Jakkur consists of a treatment plant which treats sewage partially before releasing it to constructed wetlands. The constructed wetlands consist of macrophytes and an algal pond which further treats the water which then finally enters the lake.”

The overflow from Jakkur lake feeds the downstream lakes of Rachenahalli and Nagawara. The lake is free of encroachments.

In 2019, Jalaposhan Trust was recognised by the National Water Mission for conserving and preserving Jakkur Lake.