Seven lakes under the jurisdiction of the Belagavi City Corporation are set to be rejuvenated under the Central Government’s Amrut Nagarotthana scheme, with a grant of Rs. 29.45 crore being sanctioned in the first phase.
With the objective of conserving Belagavi city’s water bodies, promoting greenery, constructing walking tracks, and providing public amenities, the City Corporation has prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and submitted it to the government for approval.
The lakes selected for rejuvenation include Ramateertha Lake, Alarwad Lake, Harijan Lake, Mutyanatti Lake, Basavana Kudachi Lake, and Angol Kari Lake, along with Fort Lake (Kote Kere).
Additional development works under the Amrut scheme are also being taken up at Kote Kere, which was developed a few years ago. Spread across 64.25 acres, tenders worth Rs. 3.10 crore have already been floated under the Minor Irrigation Department’s scheme to install pavers and construct a retaining wall around the lake premises.
Assistant Executive Engineer (AEE) of the Minor Irrigation Department, Sanjaykumar Malagi, informed that these development works are being executed separately, excluding the works already undertaken by the City Corporation.
“Works have been taken up to rejuvenate seven lakes in the city under the Amrut Nagarotthana scheme. Development work at Kote Kere has already commenced.” — Karthik M., Corporation Commissioner
Allocation of Funds and Lake Area
| Name of the Lake | Area (in Acres) | Grant (in Rs. Crore) |
|---|---|---|
| Kote Kere (Fort Lake) | 64.25 | 8.00 |
| Ramateertha Lake | 11.37 | 2.00 |
| Alarwad Lake | 7.66 | 3.00 |
| Angol Kari Lake | 20.88 | 9.45 |
| Harijan Lake | 14.00 | 1.00 |
| Basavana Kudachi Lake | 5.93 | 4.00 |
| Mutyanatti Lake | 13.37 | 2.00 |
| Total | 137.46 | 29.45 |
Need to Prioritize Strengthening the Ecosystem
Typically, lake development projects include maintenance costs for a period of 3 to 5 years. Despite this, funds are often spent repeatedly on the same lakes within a short span under the guise of development works.
Environmentalists strongly urge that instead of prioritizing mere beautification in the name of lake development, focus must be placed on strengthening the lake’s natural ecosystem. Key ecological measures must be completed first before moving on to secondary works:
- Rainwater must be properly harvested and collected in the lakes, allowing water to percolate into the ground.
- Sewage and drainage water must be prevented from entering the water bodies.
- Accumulated silt must be removed, lake bunds strengthened, and protective fencing installed wherever necessary.
