Bellandur Lake is Bengaluru’s largest wetland.
Credit: DH FILE PHOTO
Bengaluru: More than four years after the revised deadline to desilt Bellandur Lake, Bengaluru’s largest wetland remains defunct and partially polluted.
The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) halted desilting eight months ago due to a fund crunch, delaying completion until at least June 2026.
Tasked with clearing 32.5 lakh cubic metres of silt, the BDA had removed 22.69 lakh cubic metres before the June 2024 rains. However, work stalled in August when the funds dried up.
"More than Rs 75 crore is needed to remove the remaining 10 lakh cubic metres of silt, but the BDA has struggled to secure funds since July last year. As a result, a crucial work window between November 2024 and May 2025 was lost," government sources told DH.
BDA Commissioner N Jayaram acknowledged the fund shortage, but cited heavy rains as another reason for the delay. "Once the rains began, desilting was not possible. Also, the BDA had assumed farmers would take the silt and didn't factor in transportation costs, which have now escalated the project cost," he said.
The remaining silt, spread over 200 acres of the lake, must be dewatered and removed.
Toxicity concerns, particularly heavy metal contamination, led farmers to reject the silt despite free transport offers. The government then contracted its disposal to abandoned quarries 30 km away in South Bengaluru.
Jayaram confirmed that the BDA has sought additional funds from the government. "The matter is under review, and we hope to secure funds soon. We aim to complete desilting before the 2026 monsoon," he said.
With monsoon just two months away, contractors are unlikely to resume work before September. The process — dewatering, desilting, drying, and transportation — is expected to continue through next summer.
Bellandur Lake gained notoriety a decade ago when reports of it catching fire highlighted its deteriorating condition.
Following the National Green Tribunal (NGT) intervention, the government pledged to rejuvenate the lake, initially setting a December 2020 deadline. However, delay — including those attributed to Covid-19 — have repeatedly pushed the goalpost, with completion now expected by mid-2026.