Mysuru: The two-member Expert Committee appointed by Karnataka Lake Development Authority has recommended that development works including de-silting initiated by the University of Mysore must not be taken up at the iconic Kukkarahalli Lake.

In a report submitted to Mysuru Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep, the Committee recommended against dredging of the water body, an important bird and biodiversity area, as it would cause irreparable damage to the Lake. The recommendations come as a major relief to environmentalists and green groups who were against any sort of development at the Lake and had carried out a series of campaigns.

The Committee comprised retired Professor Ramprasad from the Indian Institute of Science and retired Chief Engineer C.N. Babu. The team had recently collected public opinions on pro and anti-development of the Lake and its environmental impact. Based on the recommendations, the Lake Committee, headed by the Deputy Commissioner will meet soon to decide on future plans.

The Committee has called for a new Detailed Project Report (DPR) only to divert the existing inlets to fill the Lake with clean water. The dredging and de-silting works should not happen now, the Committee said. “Once water with less turbidity and enough dissolved oxygen is filled, the oxygen and sunlight may gradually breakdown the toxic silt deposited on the Lake bed and removal of silt would not be necessary,” the Committee stated.

The report said “top priority should be to ensure that the Lake is filled with clean water.” It noted that out of the seven inlets to the Lake, only one was major one but it brought sewage into the Lake.

Airing their views, environment activists had argued that dredging during peak summer would dry up the Lake killing many species of plants, animals and birds that depend on the Lake ecosystem.  

Listing out the development plans initiated by the University of Mysore, the Expert Committee said that works like providing an e-water harmoniser system, diffused aerator system, construction of boating jetty, providing orchidarium, butterfly park, bamboo park, aquarium and adventure park must be stopped. It has only recommended the authorities to carry out works like fixing signboards, tree identification boards with scientific information, dustbins and ticket booth.

“Orchidarium, butterfly park, bamboo park, aquarium and adventure park needs wider consultation with University researchers, subject experts and the public after which a DPR has to be prepared and submitted to Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority,” the report stated. Fixing signboards and tree identification boards must also be carried out in an unobtrusive manner, the experts added.

On the need of a new DPR, the Expert Committee noted that the DPR that was prepared in 2012 did not include any measure to improve the quality of the Lake but contained estimates for fencing, providing a walking path, improvement of the feeder channel, the creation of botanical gardens, etc.

“Though five years had passed, sewage and effluents continue to flow into the Lake. Instead of establishing a treatment plant, the authorities took up dredging works at a cost of Rs. 65 lakh without clearance from the Lake Development Authority,” the experts stated.

HEBBAL LAKE

The report also called upon the authorities to formalise an arrangement with Infosys Foundation, which has agreed to fund the treatment of Hebbal Lake and ensure that about 5 MLD of treated water is diverted to Kukkarahalli Lake.

“The authorities should interact with Infosys Foundation and formalise the project of pumping treated water from the Hebbal Lake to Kukkarahalli Lake. Pump house design and the machinery and pipeline parameters should be decided jointly so that filling of one Lake does not affect filling of the other. Authorities should finalise a schedule on draining and filling up the Lake in consultation with environmentalists and ornithologists,” said the report.

BACKGROUND

The Mysore University and the District Administration had jointly planned to implement a Rs. 3 crore project for de-silting, constructing toilets, boating jetty, entry arches and shelters on the tank bund.

Following agitation by environmentalists and other organisations over the development, the Expert Panel was formed to assess the situation and submit a report.

Responding to the protests, DC Randeep had written to the Lake Development Authority to depute two experts to study Lake conservation. The Varsity was asked to suspend de-silting work until the report is submitted.