The City’s dry and desolate Hennur lake will soon turn green.
The Forest department has been mandated to develop a botanical garden that could be home to various plant species.
The proposal, approved by the State government, is aimed at educating people about the State’s rich flora as also be one of City’s tourist spots. Once in place, the park will house various medicinal trees and plants as well as wild and ornamental species.
The lake area comes under Survey No 53 of Hennur village and Survey No 13 of Nagawara village located in HBR Layout V Block.
According to the Forest department officials, the lake area has more than 1,000 saplings planted under various schemes of the government from 1995-1999, which will be put up in the vacant area. “It will be developed along the lines of the Lalbagh botanical garden,” officials said.
Bangalore Urban Deputy Conservator of Forests H R Kumar said the botanical garden will be set up on 33 acres and is estimated to cost around Rs 5 crore.
A detailed project report will be prepared. The lake, earlier under the Bangalore Development Authority, is now in the Forest department’s custody since 1990s.
To prevent encroachment and based on recommendation of N Lakshman Rau Committee, the lake was handed over to the Forest department.
The government order dated August 13, 2014, states that the park will be developed to attract tourists and the government has approved the project.
According to Hennur and HBR Layout residents, the lake was spread across more than 50 acres earlier.
“The lake was brimming with water in 1980s but was polluted with tannery effluents. From 1987, it completely dried up and shrunk. We are relieved the project has kick-started,” said Richards Sequeira from HBR Layout.