Lakes of Bengaluru: Halagevaderahalli lake in Rajarajeshwari Nagar to be restored a second time in a decade
Spread over more than 16 acres, the Halagevaderahalli lake historically used to supply drinking water to those living in its vicinity.
4 min read
Spread over more than 16 acres, including the walking path around it, the Halagevaderahalli lake is located in Bengaluru’s Rajarajeshwari Nagar. In two weeks, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will resume restoration works at the Halagevaderahalli lake, which began in November last year but was stopped midway. According to civic officials, the work got delayed over non-payment of dues to contractors. The civic body is also planning to install a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) of 0.5 MLD capacity.
Spread over more than 16 acres, including the walking path around it, the Halagevaderahalli lake is located in Bengaluru’s Rajarajeshwari Nagar. According to local residents, historically the lake used to supply drinking water to those living in its vicinity and was rejuvenated ten years ago.
According to local residents, historically the lake used to supply drinking water to those living in its vicinity and was rejuvenated ten years ago. (Express Photo)
Conservationist Joseph Hoover, who has highlighted the plight of the lake on social media, said, “The Halagevaderahalli lake is in a state of neglect. Rejuvenation work was started in the second week of November 2022 but it has been abandoned since May this year. While the STP is a necessity, desilting the lake could have been prudently avoided.”
“As per BBMP records, the lake was desilted in 2012 at a cost of Rs 5 crore. Except for sewage flowing from the eastern side, silt deposit was negligible. It is obvious that a corrupt politician forced the hands of the BBMP to steal public funds. The ecology of the lake has been devastated and public money wasted,” Hoover said.
Rejuvenation work was started in the second week of November 2022 but it has been abandoned since May this year, said Conservationist Joseph Hoover. (Express Photo)
BBMP chief engineer (lakes) Vijay Kumar Haridas said water was drained from the lake to carry out the restoration work. “The work was delayed due to non-payment to contractors. It will be resumed in another two weeks. An STP will be installed so that only treated water enters the lake,” he added.
Vinayak Dinni, a resident of Rajarajeshwari Nagar, said that instead of rejuvenating Kenchanahalli lake, which is a few kilometres away, money was being wasted on a lake which was desilted a decade ago. “The BBMP should prioritise things. I stay close to Kenchanahalli lake and can say that it has turned out to be a drainage,” he said.
As per BBMP records, the lake was desilted in 2012 at a cost of Rs 5 crore. (Express Photo)
“As far as Halagevaderahalli lake is concerned, it used to attract 35 species of birds. After the restoration work began, these birds are nowhere to be seen. After the previous restoration, during heavy rainfall – I believe it was a few years ago – drainage water from a stormwater drain which runs parallel to the lake overflowed and entered the water body,” Dinni pointed out.
Halagevaderahalli lake used to attract 35 species of birds. (Express Photo)
While the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has published the water quality index of all lakes in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, it has not provided the details of Halagevaderahalli lake. Calls made to KSPCB officials remained unanswered.
Recently, the BBMP was under fire for constructing a temporary road on Hosakerehalli lake, also located in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. Two engineers were subsequently suspended.
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