BDA plans to fence 79 lakes to check encroachments

Revenue department yet to respond to its proposal

The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) is ready and keen to fence 79 lakes in the City, but so far it has received no response from the Revenue department to go ahead with the work. 

The BDA states that fencing is a crucial aspect in protection and preservation of water bodies.

The BDA has written to the Revenue department about its interest. “We have written several letters to the Revenue department about being ready to fence 79 lakes, but so far we have received no response from them. Only when they give the go ahead can we begin the work,” P N Nayak, Engineer member, told Deccan Herald.

Once fencing is taken up, there will be clarity as to who the owner of the lake is – BDA, BBMP or Lake Development Authority. It is this lack of clarity that is causing confusion in the development and maintenance of the lakes.

The fencing is vital to prevent encroachments. “There have been encroachments in many lakes. Most of the encroachment happens because the lakes are not fenced. BDA believes that if this has to stop, lakes have to be fenced. So far, 38 lakes have been protected. The rest 79 are still open to encroachment,” Nayak said.

The fencing cannot begin until the marking of the boundaries is undertaken. The boundaries of 79 lakes are still to be marked and only after this is done can the fencing begin. The Bellandur lake for instance has a periphery of 11 km. It would take three months to fence the entire lake since its periphery is a big one touching varthur lake, Agara and a few more lake beds. The cost of fencing Bellandur lake is about Rs 3 crore, according to the BDA.

The cost of fencing 79 lakes would go over Rs 100 crore. The cost would range from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5 crore depending on the size of the lake and extent of periphery. The average cost of fence is Rs 800-1,000 per metre.

The BDA has been vested with the responsibility of not only fencing lakes but even developing them after which they would be returned to the BBMP, which will maintain them thereon. 

The BDA feels that since it is not the parent of the lakes, the task would have to be given to the Lake Development Authority (LDA).