BDA to Develop Lakes in Bangalore

Unable to take up the development and restoration of lakes within its limits, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has decided to hand them over to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA).

The BBMP has identified 183 live lakes in its limits. They cover an area of approximately 7,209 acres. The civic body had taken up development works in 132 lakes covering 5,382 acres. The BBMP commissioner had on August 19, 2011 written to the state government requesting it to take over the development of the lakes through the BDA, as it is unable carry out the required works on a regular basis. As per an order issued by the urban development department on January 25 this year, the BBMP is to hand over 78 lakes to the BDA. However, it will be the responsibility of the BBMP and the state government to earmark a certain amount for the development of the lakes.

A senior BDA official said, “The lakes have been handed over to the BDA. Soon, we will prepare an action plan after preparing a detailed project report. The first task before us is to remove the encroachments.”

Rejuvenate the lakes

On February 11, 1988, the L Lakshmanrao Committee had recommended that the state government take up development works around lakes. Among other things, silt should be removed, it said. The committee had recommended it not to hand over the lake or the surrounding land to any organisation. It is the responsibility of the revenue department to keep the lakes free of encroachments with the help of the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force. The committee had also said that sewage water should not enter the lakes during rejuvenation work.

Developer Needs 34 Clearances to Complete Project

High stamp duties and difficulties in land acquisition are some other issues, which need to be addressed.


Delays in project clearances have helped property prices to increase by 40 percent in India. Usually, to start a new project, 34 procedures are required to obtain clearance which takes an average time of six months.

According to the Economic Survey 2013, “India’s housing and real estate sector faces many challenges. There are 34 procedures and the average time taken is 196 days, which increases the sale value by 40 per cent,” according to the Economic Survey for 2012-13.

Quoting the latest World Bank report, the survey stated that in terms of housing, India is one among the top countries but when it comes to project clearances, it ranks 182nd.

Rapid increase in land prices, absence of a long-term funding and lending market at fixed rates, limited developer finance, the Urban Land Ceiling Regulations Act (ULCRA) continuing in some states, existing lower floor area ratio in cities, high stamp duties and difficulties in land acquisition are some other issues, which need to be addressed, said the
survey.

In India’s total GDP, the real estate sector and the housing sector contribute a share of 5.9 percent and have seen growth of 7.2 percent in the year 2011-12.

The survey also said that property prices have become reasonable during the current financial year.
“As per the National Housing Bank RESIDEX index for the quarter July-September 2012 compared to April-June 2012 (covering 20 cities, with 2007 as base year), there is a general decline in prices of residential properties in some smaller towns, while the increase in other cities is mostly marginal,” the survey added, reports . With the increase in urbanization, the demands for housing in cities have been increasing over the years.