The recent draining of two prominent city lakes — Nagawara and Halasuru — has left many residents concerned. However, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) has clarified that the move is part of a comprehensive rejuvenation drive aimed at restoring ecological balance and improving water storage capacity.
Halasuru lake to be desilted after 20 years
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The 124-acre Halasuru Lake was drained about a week ago and is set to undergo desilting for the first time in two decades. According to GBA Assistant Executive Engineer Shilpa, the process will begin once the lakebed dries sufficiently. The aim is to complete the work before the monsoon.
The lake will later be handed over to the Central City Corporation for maintenance. While the water body currently stands empty, walkways around parts of the lake remain accessible to the public.
Nagawara and Hebbal under phased development
Both Nagawara Lake (92 acres) and Hebbal Lake (192 acres) were drained between early and mid-February. Officials confirmed that desilting, bund construction and inlet restoration are underway.
Executive Engineer Nithya stated that inlets to both lakes had been diverted, restricting rainwater flow. Encroachments will be cleared and natural inlets restored. Nearly one lakh cubic metres of silt must be removed from Nagawara alone.
Progress at Varthur, Bellandur and Uttarahalli
Desilting of Varthur Lake (450 acres) has been completed and will soon be handed over for maintenance. Work continues at Bellandur Lake (890 acres), where 22–24 lakh cubic metres of silt have already been removed out of 32 lakh cubic metres.
Meanwhile, Uttarahalli Lake, rejuvenated in 2015, currently shows low water levels despite active public use.
Authorities maintain that the temporary inconvenience is necessary to ensure long-term sustainability of Bengaluru’s crucial water bodies.