The district administration is likely to set up three Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) at Lingambudhi lake as part of its ongoing efforts to conserve and augment fresh water inflow into it.
A major lung space and one of the three important lakes of Mysuru along with Kukkarahallikere and Karanji Nature Park, Lingambudhi lake is spread over 250 acres and is a treasure trove of biodiversity harbouring over 150 species of birds and plants. The water spread itself extends to about 160 acres during monsoon.
Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, who inspected the lake on Thursday, said the core issue pertained to conserving the lake and revitalising it. “Hence, a coordination committee will be constituted with representatives drawn from the Forest Department, Horticulture Department, and the local residents welfare association,” Mr. Randeep said.
He said diversion of sewage was important and though the inflow has been plugged, it was imperative to construct at least three STPs so that the sewage could be treated before being released into the lake. This will help augment the lake, besides ensuring the presence of water all through the year.
He said there was no dearth of funds for the lake development and the Tourism Department too will contribute for its upkeep and rejuvenation. Encroachments will be cleared, but a blueprint for lake development with priority-wise action plan will be chalked out.
Lingambudhi lake, which abuts Dattagalli, and Lingambudhi villages and parts of Vivekananda Nagar, has also received Central government funding for creation of lung spaces within cities.
“In all, 200 urban areas in the country have been identified under the project and Lingambudhi lake has been sanctioned ₹1.74 crore for lake conservation works,” Deputy Conservator of Forests V. Karikalan said.
He told The Hindu that works related to creating islets, diversion of sewage, enhancing the water retention capacity of the lake, among others have been completed and the first tranche of ₹80 lakh has already been released and spent. The second tranche of ₹94 lakh is awaiting clearance and may be released in due course, he added. The entire lake precincts has been declared as a reserve forest and hence is under the control of the Forest Department. But the land adjoining the lake is being maintained by the Horticulture Department.
A peripheral walking path of 8 km and an interior walking path of 5 km are already in place besides children’s play area, toilets, RO drinking water facility, and an amphitheatre besides a Nakshatra Vana — which entails planting saplings of species identified with different zodiacal signs, bamboo grooves, sacred groves, among others.
Lalbagh type botanical garden
The Horticulture Department, which has about 20 acres of land attached to the lake precincts, will create a new botanical garden with about 2,000 saplings of 500 species. The swathe of land was leased to a brick factory and on expiry of the lease, the land was handed over to the Horticulture Department, to develop the place. Officials said the plan is to develop the area on the lines of Lalbagh in Bengaluru and the planting of saplings will be completed by July. This will supplement the Nakshatra Vana inside the Lingambudhi lake premises maintained by the Forest Department.
