In a remarkable environmental turnaround for India's tech capital, the long-forgotten Kacharakanahalli lake in North Bengaluru has sprung back to life, holding water for the first time in nearly three decades. Once dismissed as a mere dumping ground, the lake's revival marks a significant victory for civic activism and restoration engineering in the city.
From Debris to Water: A Two-Year Engineering Feat
The transformation of the lake is the result of a dedicated two-year effort initiated by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike's (BBMP) lakes department. This action followed a crucial High Court directive in July 2022 that formally handed over the lake to the civic body. Before restoration began, the site was a flat stretch of debris, slums, and diverted drains, so degraded that even senior officers were unaware it was once a waterbody.
"When we first visited the site, even senior officers didn't know it was a lake — it looked completely dead," recounted an engineer from the BBMP lakes department who worked closely on the renovation. Historical records show Kacharakanahalli was originally a 57.3-acre lake in northeast Bengaluru. However, by the 1990s, rampant encroachment had swallowed nearly 42% of its area. A large portion was converted into a BDA layout, while the remaining open space degenerated into an informal dumpyard. Natural water channels were blocked, sewage pits proliferated, and the main bund was heavily encroached upon.
Reclaiming the Lakebed Inch by Inch
Post the court order, BBMP began phased reclamation. Although officially handed over 16 acres, engineers managed to reclaim nearly 20 acres by recovering old dirt roads and clearing minor encroachments. The restoration involved desilting, reviving water channels, and undoing years of neglect. However, a stay from the High Court currently affects the remaining land, complicating full recovery.
For long-time residents like Alexander James, the change is deeply personal. "My sister and I grew up very close to the lake... We saw the lake full of water, we also saw the lake vanishing, and fortunately, we are now seeing the lake being revived and brought to life again," he told TOI. He expressed joy at seeing people return for walks and gatherings by the restored waterbody.
The Persistent Challenge: Relocating a Slum Cluster
Despite the progress, a major hurdle remains. A slum cluster occupying about 2 acres, home to approximately 425 families, sits on a critical part of the lakebed. This area contains a vital inlet, and ongoing issues like open defecation threaten the lake's water quality. Although the matter falls outside BBMP's direct jurisdiction, the civic body has taken a proactive step by transferring Rs 8 crore to the Karnataka Slum Development Board to facilitate relocation.
"It is close to one year since the fund was transferred to the slum board, and yet there has been no action or move to relocate the people living there," a senior official noted. Engineers emphasize that clearing this space is essential not only for the lake's shape but also for its long-term ecological health. "If the last 2 acres are cleared, the lake's health will dramatically improve," the project engineer added.
A Work in Progress with a Hopeful Future
The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) acknowledges that the work is only partially complete. Key tasks like the formal handover of all land, clearing the final encroachments, relocating the slum households, and installing a protective fence around the lake perimeter are still pending.
Nevertheless, the sight of water in Kacharakanahalli lake after 30 years is a powerful symbol for Bengaluru, a city rapidly losing its lakes and battling water scarcity. It stands as one of the rare stories where a waterbody, long considered clinically dead, has been given a second chance at life, offering a blueprint for future restoration projects across the metropolitan area.
