Bellandur Lake Desilting Project: Official Claims vs. Activist Allegations
Five years ago, Bengaluru's Bellandur lake resembled a massive construction site, with trucks, backhoe loaders, and excavators rolling in to scoop out silt. This fueled hope among residents that the city's largest lake would be desilted, breathing again with cleaner water, greater storage capacity, and a revived ecosystem.
Official Progress Report: 70% of Work Completed
Cut to the present, and the lake has returned to the spotlight. When questioned in the second week of January, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) officials in charge of lake development stated that nearly 70% of the lake rejuvenation work has been completed. This includes dewatering, desilting, and building diversion channels.
Officials revealed that when the work order was issued to the contractor in November 2020, it was estimated that the 916-acre lake had accumulated 32.3 lakh cubic metres of silt. This is equivalent to filling a staggering 1,300 Olympic-size swimming pools. According to BDA, 22.7 lakh cubic metres of silt has been removed and dumped at two quarries on the outskirts of the city.
BDA officials insist that only 12 lakh cubic metres of silt remains to be removed. They admitted that logistical challenges limited the dredging depth to only 1.5 metres, compared to the originally planned 3 metres.
Activists' Counter-Narrative: Desilting Halted, Dumping Intensified
Lake activists, however, present a starkly different story. According to them, meaningful desilting came to a halt years ago. What has intensified instead, they allege, are dumping activities and widening works, with little to show in terms of improved water quality or restored habitat.
Activists have flagged serious concerns over a temporary bund road built inside the lake to transport dredged silt. They allege that this road is now being widened to nearly 60 feet—far beyond operational needs—while large quantities of soil, debris, and construction waste are being dumped inside the lake, effectively raising ground levels.
Members of the Kempapura Yemalur Bellandur Institution Association (KYBIA), a public charitable trust involved in lake restoration, expressed alarm. "These activities raise serious concerns that a temporary bund is being strengthened to eventually convert it into a permanent road, which is legally impermissible," they stated.
They warned that the lake, one of the city's most critical hydrological and ecological assets, could suffer irreversible damage due to alterations to its natural contours and buffer zones.
Official Response and Calls for Action
A senior BDA official responded, "We are doing our best with the resources provided, but without proper support and coordination, our hands are tied." The official added that the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) should also be responsible, noting, "We are desilting lakes and transporting the silt, while they should control the waste from entering waterbodies."
Calling for urgent corrective steps, Jagadish Reddy, a social worker associated with the Bellandur–Varthur Lakes Development Committee, emphasized, "A monitoring committee must be formed immediately. Desilting should be completed without delay and CCTV cameras should be installed to prevent dumping and encroachments."
The ongoing dispute highlights the complex challenges in urban lake rejuvenation, balancing bureaucratic processes with environmental imperatives in India's tech capital.
