Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has not taken any action on a proposal by the Infosys Foundation to rejuvenate two dying waterbodies - commonly known as Doddathogur and Chikkathogur lakes - in Electronics City.

Once the lifeline of villages in their vicinity, the waterbodies are reduced to weed-filled sewage pools. To rejuvenate the lakes, the Infosys Foundation submitted a proposal to the district administration with a Rs 25-crore investment under its Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

The proposal seeks to set up a sewage treatment plant of 8 million litres per day (MLD) on three acres, constructing a bund, lighting up the area , drinking water and toilet facilities for visitors, walking and jogging tracks.

The district administration has been silent about the proposal for the past six months. The IT major's foundation's repeated efforts to take the project forward have been in vain. "We don't know why there's no response from the DC's office. It should say a `yes' or a `no'. The administration lists these as `waiting to be rejuvenated'," said a source at the Infosys Foundation. Our objective is to pro vide a holistic solution to bring the dying lakes, which are close to the NICE Road and Hosur Road Junction, back to life. We suggested importing membrane bioreactor systems from Germany as these can treat the lake water and make it potable. We said the byproduct sludge could be converted into manure. It'll go a long way in reviving the lake and recharging ground water as we planned to desilt the waterbody . We offered to maintain the sewage treatment plant for five years and hand it over to the government," said the same source. Ramadas Kamath, executive vice-president and head of infrastructure, Infosys, said, "We understand the lake is a subject of dispute before the Supreme Court. We're awaiting approval. As it's delayed beyond reason, we're not taking up the project this year. We'll evaluate it next year."

DK Suresh, Bengaluru Rural MP, said he was aware of the issue. "I know the proposal has been pending for a long time. I'm talking to the Bengaluru Urban district administration and there seems to be some technical problem about handing over the Doddathogur Lake for development under PPP as it comes under the NICE project. We'll request the foundation to take up another waterbody nearby and rejuvenate it," he added.

Bengaluru Urban DC V Shankar said there's a technical problem in handing over Doddathogur Lake to the Infosys Foundation for rejuvenation. "As per the records, the lake is under the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project (BMICP). We have found that the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) has handed over the waterbody to the corri dor jurisdiction along with the land. We have written to the authorities concerned and sought a no-objection certificate so that we can hand over the lake for rejuvenation. We don't have a problem with the foundation taking up lake rejuvenation. In fact, we welcome such initiatives. We're also identifying alternative waterbodies which the foundation can take up as well," he added.

The dying lakes

Prakash L, 55, a resident of Chikkthogur, recalls that the water body near his village was very clean 15 years ago."Migratory birds would regularly visit the lake much to the delight of the children.Locals would even go fishing here. In the past few years, the lake has been murdered, thanks to rapid development in the vicinity. Garbage is being dumped in the open land behind Chikkathogur Lake and when it rains all the waste material enters the lake. It's the same with Doddathogur Lake," he added. Though there were some efforts by citizen's groups and industry associations, like the Electronics City Industries' Association (ELCIA), to clean up Doddathogur Lake last year, locals say a big push for rejuvenation is desperately needed.

TIMES VIEW

The government is lethargic in its efforts to rejuvenate lakes, but that is only to be expected. What's appalling is its reluctance to clear a proposal by the Infosys Foundation to infuse a breath of life into two lakes and let it get on with the job it cannot do. The foundation has now reached a point where the delay has forced it to rejig its plans and it'll now relook at the plan only next year. Precious time is being lost in saving our water bodies, thanks to red tapism and the district administration's reluctance to fast-track the plan.



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