Bengaluru’s Kacharakanahalli lake to get new life with walkways, wetlands

Bengaluru: Commuters travelling towards northeast Bengaluru via Lingarajapuram flyover will soon notice a transformed landscape as the long-neglected Kacharakanahalli lake is being redeveloped under a Rs 14-crore project.

The initiative is being jointly executed by Bengaluru North City Corporation (BNCC) and minor irrigation department. Of the total project cost, Rs 4 crore is being funded through the corporation’s grant and the remaining Rs 10 crore by the department.

Spread across an area of 16 acres, the 13-acre lake is undergoing desilting and deepening works, expected to be completed by May-end. Officials say these efforts will significantly enhance the lake’s water-holding capacity.

The lake, located in Sarvagnanagar assembly constituency, has a catchment area of 3.9sqkm. According to a BNCC engineer, the corporation will undertake desilting, construction of walkway, development of sedimentation ponds and setting up of a security room. The new walkway around the lake will be over 1.2km long.

The minor irrigation department will focus on ornamental grill fencing and floating wetlands, which will help absorb nutrients from the lake, reducing the effect of pollution.

Plans include construction of idol immersion tank within the lake premises. In addition, Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is planning a sewage treatment plant for the area, though the location is yet to be finalised.