In what is being described as the biggest lake conservation project under the PPP model in the State, Infosys Foundation has joined hands with the Mysuru district administration and other stakeholders for the conservation of Hebbal lake. The lake, spread over 40 acres, will receive a whopping Rs. 30 crore funding from the foundation for restoration works.
Sudha Murthy, Chairperson, Infosys Foundation, and Deputy Commissioner C. Shikha on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for conserving the lake.
The lake, once a thriving water body, got polluted over the years, and is now surrounded by housing blocks and industries and Infosys Mysuru campus is also located there.
Ms. Murthy told The Hindu that conservation work will be done in 15 months and the foundation would maintain it for five years. Thereafter, the lake’s maintenance would be the onus of the government (Mysuru City Corporation).
“The silt will be removed, fencing of the lake boundary will be done and we will beautify the surroundings,” she said.
A major chunk of the funds will go for setting up a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), which will come up on a three-acre plot allotted to the foundation next to the lake. Ms. Murthy said membrane technology from Germany will be adopted for the 8-mld capacity STP. The recycled sewage water will be flowed back into the lake.
In reply to a query, she said, “The saying goes that if you want to do something good to society, build a lake. What I have taken up now is conservation for a good cause and public good.”
She said this conservation is the first such venture by the foundation, and it is because of her fondness for Mysuru and the Mysuru royal family. “My husband (Infosys founder N.R. Narayana Murthy) has a special bond with Mysuru. The Mysuru kings protected our language and culture,” she said.
Thanking Ms. Murthy for her gesture, Ms. Shikha described the lake conservation with private partnership as the largest in the State.
“We did the ground work for six months before reaching this stage of signing the MoU. The silt removal work has commenced. The ownership of the lake will remain with the government,” she said.
Public amenities such as toilets, walkways, and garden will also come up on the lake precincts.
Ms. Shikha said the Hebbal lake campus can emerge as a tourist destination once the conservation is complete.
MCC Commissioner C.G. Betsurmath, MUDA Commissioner Mahesh, Assistant Commissioner Anand, tahsildar Naveen Joseph, and officials from the Infosys Foundation were present.
After signing the MoU at the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Ms. Murthy and Ms. Shikha, accompanied by the officials from the MCC, MUDA and KSPCB, visited the lake. It may be mentioned here that Infosys Foundation had earlier restored the Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion in Manasagangotri campus of the University of Mysore here a decade ago.
We had plans of conserving a lake and the district administration approached us to restore Hebbal lake. We wish to complete the conservation in 15 months and maintain it for a period of five years.
Sudha Murthy
Chairperson, Infosys Foundation
The conservation of Hebbal lake is considered one of the biggest conservations with private partnership in the State. Besides developing public amenities on the lake precincts, the entire area will be beautified, turning the place into a major lung space.
C. Shikha
Deputy Commissioner, Mysuru
