After facing flak over rampant encroachment and abysmal conditions of lake beds in Bangalore, the State government is looking at stronger measures to safeguard the waterbodies. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Monday said the fortunes of Bangalore’s lakes could be turned around by handing them over to Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating BDA’s Kothanur-Konanakunte Road in J P Nagar, the Chief Minister said, “The Lake Development Authority (LDA) was entrusted with the rejuvenation of Puttenahalli Lake on a Rs Three-crore budget. However, not much is visible as on how the money has been spent,”.
He said the BBMP could take over the lakes coming under its purview and rejuvenate them, while BDA could do the same outside the BBMP peripheries.
Mr Kumaraswamy pointed out that public participation had helped BDA complete the Kothanur-Konanakunte Road. Lauding residents on their involvement in the project, he said they could also take up environmental projects in the neighbourhood.
Development
Stressing on the need for overall development of Greater Bangalore, he said basic infrastructure had been elusive for many Bangaloreans till now because the CMCs didn’t have the men and money to implement projects. The CM said the BDA project that would ensure two lakh houses to the economically weaker sections, would be formally launched soon.
Earlier, Minister for Health and Family Welfare R Ashok too stressed on the importance of handing over the lakes to BBMP and BDA and conserving them. He added that a Greater Bangalore was inevitable, considering that the CMCs had been ill-equipped to meet infrastructure requirements of the people.