Huge silt deposits that have been reducing the water-holding capacity of almost all lakes in Karnataka may soon be used for the construction of national highways.
The state government has identified 1,038 lakes, including 28 from Bengaluru Urban, that are within a five km radius of highways. The initiative is expected to solve twin problems: Choked lakes are freed of silt and highway projects get the much-needed soil. The fertile soil is, however, not excavated.
These water bodies were identified by the Minor Irrigation department, which is the custodian of lakes in Karnataka. Citing the Centre’s ‘Amrit Sarovar’ programme launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) had requested the department to identify lakes within a five-km radius of the highways.
