🌊 Restoring lakes taking ages

Lake restoring projects are facing repeated delays.

Story so far: The Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) hasn’t met the deadlines for restoring lakes. One example is Seegehalli Lake. Development work began last year and has yet to be completed. In trying to build underground drainage (UGD) line, officials destroyed a kid’s play area.

• Local residents and activists aren’t happy. The drainage work has been going on for a year. Saplings were removed, and the transportation of the silt wasn’t done. Despite contractors giving assurances, nothing has happened.
• There seems to be a flaw in the design and style of the rejuvenation project. While the lake needs fresh water, this lake gets raw sewage and trash when it rains. Authorities seemed to have ignored the underlying issue of sewage treatment and flow.

What was the plan? The lake is spread over an area of 31.13 acres. The project for this lake includes a sewage treatment plant and a new walkway around it. Due to the pandemic, the civic body’s lake department is short of money.