There may be hope yet for the city’s dying lakes, with five corporate firms coming forward to fund the rejuvenation of five different lakes.
The newly formed Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA), which in its earlier avatar as Lake Development Authority had got into the soup for leasing out four lakes, had pitched for contributions from the corporate sector to conserve and rejuvenate lakes. In response, five firms (see box) signed the expression of interest with KLCDA on Monday.
Ajay Misra, chief executive officer of KLCDA, said the authority would now work with corporate firms and civic agencies to draw up detailed project reports for the works to be taken up in the lakes selected. He clarified that commercial activity, advertisements and charging of entry fee would be strictly prohibited.
Puneeth Bhirani, chief administrative officer of Mphasis, one of the firms that have signed up, said they had wanted to help conserve Mahadevapura lake for many months but did not know whom to approach.
KLCDA, which will be the custodian of the lakes, will henceforth be the single-window clearance agency for communities, corporates and NGOs to work for the city’s lakes. On Monday, the Forest Department, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and the Bangalore Development Authority made presentations on rejuvenation works under way and those yet to be taken up, seeking funds for projects.
Hariprasad Hegde, of the Confederation of Indian Industries-Karnataka Water Taskforce, which had organised the workshop ‘Bring Back the Lakes-2016’, said the task force would work with KLCDA and publish a list of investment opportunities for the city’s lakes in every quarter.
