The work on the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the restoration of the long-neglected Devanur Lake could begin soon with the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) asking a private agency with expertise in lake development to carry out the exercise.
Senior MUDA officials including Mahesh, Commissioner, held a meeting recently to review the issue and reportedly issued oral directions to the private agency to begin the work. MUDA has identified Ms Jalavahini Management Services Pvt Ltd to prepare the DPR. “The agreement would have been signed, but their director was not in town. The draft agreement has been prepared and the same will be signed soon,” said R.K. Raju, Executive Engineer, MUDA, who also claimed that Budgetary provision has been made for the preparation of the DPR.
Devanur Lake, situated between N.R. Mohalla and Rajiv Nagar in the city, has been languishing in neglect for years now with authorities letting sewage water into the lake pass through the storm water drains.
Meanwhile, Dr. P.M. Kulkarni from Ms Jalavahini Management Services said the DPR could be prepared in three to four weeks once the work begins.
During the preparation of the DPR, the topography of the area will be checked and soil testing will be carried out. Besides, the issue of storm water drains releasing sewage into the lake and marking of the water body’s boundary will have to be taken up.
After the DPR is prepared and the boundary of the lake is marked, the MUDA plans to ask the Revenue Department authorities to remove the encroachments that have come up on the lake area.
