Residents waiting for Kaikondrahalli Lake rejuvenation
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For those living in Bellandur and along Sarjapur Road, a cleaned-up Kaikondrahalli lake means better ground water levels and rich biodiversity. When the BBMP started work on it eight months ago, they decided to pitch in. They bought native trees to be planted around the lake, and got experts to advise them on many aspects of lake restoration. Citizens have bought 2,000 trees to plant around the lake, and are waiting anxiously for the contractor to complete his work on its rejuvenation. Work on the 48-acre lake was to be completed before the monsoons set in last month. The BBMP has entrusted the work of cleaning up the lake to a private contractor.So far, the BBMP has done the stone pitching, desilting, revertment, etc. The work is slow, but still the BBMP officials are confident of completing the work soon.
The Kaikondrahalli Lake, spread over an area of about 48 acres, is rich in biodiversity.According to source, there are 43 species of birds, including the pheasant-tailed jacana, purple moorhen, and the red wattled lapwing, besides different species of snakes and other living forms. But after water from the lake was drained out, there is no sign of them. So far the Kaikondrahalli Lake rejuvenation work is going slow, but still the BBMP officials are confident of completing the work soon. “We are confident the work will be over by July-end, and the lake will fill up this monsoon” said B V Satish, BBMP chief engineer (lakes).
Kaikondrahalli Lake was in deep neglect and there were large-scale encroachments. Kaikondrahalli Lake rejuvenation work started as a small attempt by residents about three years ago when they invited the then chairman of the Lake Development Authority, BK Singh, to the lake site for a discussion. What started as a discussion with him finally led to a lot of arguments and ultimately a fence was built to prevent further encroachments. Later on the residents approached the new MLA, Aravind Limbavali, who gave a good hearing to what the residents had to say. Another resident of Kaikondrahalli, Shekar Reddy, facilitated meetings with the Chief Engineer and gave it the much-needed political push. Subsequenly, Shekar Reddy worked with Aravind Limbavalli’s office and, in turn, the MLA facilitated a broader discussion at Vidhana Soudha where all the civic agency honchos of the BBMP, BWSSB, Forest Department, Pollution Control Board, etc, met on one platform.
The Federation of Resident Welfare Associations of Ward-150 (Forward-150), a collective of 30 associations, took the initiative to document the diversity of the lake, and suggested major changes to the revival plan.“We had to meet many officials and convince them, but we are glad they have accepted all suggestions,” said a member. Residents helped fix the width of the bund area where a jogging track is planned.
Citizens had chosen specific bird-attracting indigenous trees, but tree plantation has yet to be taken up. As a symbolic measure, they did bhoomi pooja and planted some saplings on the island last week. They bought native trees to be planted around the lake, and got experts to advise them on many aspects of lake restoration.
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