Treated water being pumped into Bagalur Lake

BENGALURU: Residents of Bagalur and surrounding areas in north Bengaluru have been rejoicing of late. The lake in their vicinity, which had dried up due to lack of rain, is gradually getting filled with the city’s treated water . In the coming months, 11 more lakes in Bengaluru Urban district will be rejuvenated in a similar manner.

Filling of lakes using treated water is part of the Hebbal-Nagawara valley project, under which the state government plans to recharge 65 lakes in Bengaluru Urban/Rural and Chikkaballapura districts.

Byatarayanapura MLA Krishna Byre Gowda, in whose constituency Bagalur lake falls, recently tweeted saying the exercise will recharge depleting groundwater levels, help increase green cover, boost agriculture and help nurture plants, birds and animals. “Good example of recycling & reusing water… Four years of efforts by Government & Rs 1000 cr investment behind this water flowing into our lakes,” he tweeted.

A senior engineer with the minor irrigation department said in addition to 12 lakes in Bengaluru north taluk (Bengaluru Urban district), they have plans to fill nine in Devanahalli taluk (Bengaluru Rural) and 44 lakes in Chikkaballapura district.

The project involves supplying 210 million litres of treated sewage water every day through pipes to fill up the water bodies. Overall, the project promises 2.7tmcft of water for the three districts and aims to rejuvenate the water bodies, thereby improving the groundwater table in the surrounding areas.

As part of the initiative, treated water from the city is being pumped to upstream lakes, like the one in Bagalur. “Once the upstream lakes are full, water will flow to the downstream ones through a natural gradient,” said another engineer from the minor irrigation department.

Authorities hope that in the long run the treated water and rejuvenated lakes would help revive four dead rivers — Uttara Pinakini, Dakshina Pinakini, Chitravati and Papagni — all of which originate in Bengaluru’s backyard.

Several lakes in Kolar district are already getting treated water under the Koramangala-Challaghatta valley project.

