Kempambudhi lake to get makeover as tourist spot

The Kempambudhi lake is all set to be a centre of tourist attraction after two months, if the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has its way.

Desiltation, cleaning of the lake and boating facilities, etc, will provide a new lease of life to the City’s oldest water body.

Choked with weeds, hyacinth and sewage, the lake, at present, is an eyesore to the public. 

Constructed by the founder of Bangalore, Kempegowda, the water body served as a catchment area. 

It supplied drinking water to the people living in the surrounding areas.

As the City expanded, sewerage began flowing into the lake through the stormwater drains leading to pollution. The sewage inflow could not be halted completely, despite some vain measures implemented by the Palike to divert it elsewhere. 

On a request made by the local MLA, Ravi Subramanya and the corporators of the constituency, Mayor D Venkatesh Murthy and BBMP Commissioner Shankarlinge Gowda visited the lake on Wednesday.

After the inspection, they felt that the measures taken so far were inadequate and a lot more required to be done.

Bringing back glory

Speaking to mediapersons, the mayor said that the Palike will take up restoration of the historical Kempambudhi Lake on war-footing and strive its best to bring back  its lost glory.

Gowda explained that the flooding in the Gali Anjaneya Temple on Mysore Road was due to Kempambudhi lake.

“Since the Kempambudhi lake serves as “holding tank” or “‘balancing tank” to check flooding in the downstream, the failure of the system resulted in the flooding of Gali Anjaneya Temple. We need to restore the lake to address the flooding of the downstream,” Gowda added.

He said once the action plan for the water body is implemented, the lake will draw fresh water and the marine life in it will flourish. The Palike intends to turn the lake into a tourist hub in two-months’ time, where boating facility will be provided. As far as weeds were concerned, the commissioner said they were necessary for the growth of marine life.

Speaking on encroachment, both Venkatesh Murthy and Shankarlinge Gowda said a temple in the vicinity of the lake had allegedly encroached upon five acres of the lake bed. The matter is pending before the court. 

Measures will be taken to clear the encroachment. Further, the Palike will take up rejuvenation of all the 55 lakes which come under its jurisdiction, one by one, he said.