The Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) will soon start work on rejuvenating the 917-acre Bellandur lake that has often hit headlines due to the huge froth it generates due to the large-scale presence of phosphorous in the waterbody.The lake, which is also Bengaluru’s largest, is located close to the information technology corridor, and draws a lot of attention every time a foam erupts. The weeds are estimated to have spread to an area of 500 to 600 acres now. In summer months, it is expected to go up because of seasonal factors.
The project involves deweeding of the lake, and installing aerators in order to increase the dissolved oxygen level in the waterbody, BDA Commissioner Rakesh Singh told ET. “We are going to do this systematically, and it might take 18 to 24 months for the project to complete after we finalise the agency to do the job.”
The private bidders have been given two weeks to submit their technical and financial bids to BDA, based on which the organisation will take a call.
Biocon founder Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw hailed the initiative. “It is a very good initiative. Bellandur has to be revived soon, and a lot of technology is available,” she said, and added her company is working on reviving the Hebbagodi lake.
The State Government had appointed a committee of experts in May last year to rejuvenate Bellandur and Varthur lakes. The 18-member committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary Mahendra Jain, had listed the short-terms and long-term measures needed to turn around the lake.
The government, early this year, transferred the lake from BBMP to BDA hoping that the latter will be able to take quicker decisions.
The BDA, according to Engineer Member P.N.Nayak, had invited expression of interest in January. After evaluation, three companies have been qualified to submit bids. “We have asked them to submit the bids in two weeks,” he said.
The joint venture of Vadodara-based Gujarat Eco Microbial Technologies and Bengaluru-based D&S Renergies, and Harvins Constructions and SOMA Enterprises, both from Hyderabad, are the qualified firms.
The companies have come up with varied suggestions. While one said it will make compost out of weeds, another said it will use its technology to produce energy out of the weeds, Nayak said.
BDA wants to see the progress at Bellandur lake and then replicate it in Varthur lake, he said.
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