February 10, 2014 Shri. T. Sham Bhatt Commissioner Bangalore Development Authority T. Chowdaiah Road, Kumara Park West Bangalore 560 020 Dear Commissioner, Per the Memorandum of Agreement dated November 6th, 2012, between the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and Invicus Engineering in collaboration with the Sherwood Institute and Carollo Engineering, please find attached the Vision Plan for the restoration of the lakes of Bangalore and a framework for their regeneration. The intent of this Vision Plan is to increase the understanding of what steps need to be taken to allow the City of Bangalore to regenerate its lakes, the importance of their role in a City-wide sustainable water supply system, and to start a conversation about how such steps can and should be financed. We would like to thank you for signing the MOA and acknowledge the contribution of Mr. Chickarayappa, Mr. Nayak and Mr. Manjappa of the BDA and Mr. Akash with Sky Group for providing the GIS data used in our preparation of this Vision Plan. We look forward to reviewing this plan with the BDA and receiving the BDA’s feedback. Best Regards, John Leys Associate Director Sherwood Institute Better Lakes, Better Bangalore BETTER LAKES, BETTER BANGALORE: VISION PLAN 1 Introduction Purpose of the Vision Plan Stakeholder Outreach Process The Challenege Background Land Use Water Resources & Infrastructure Case Study: Sankey Tank, Bangalore Bellandur Lake Vision 2035 Bangalore’s Potential as a Global City Global City-Making Principles Case Study: Plan Verde, Mexico City Open Space and Public Access Sustainable Water Resources Integrated Water Resources Management Plan Sewage Infrastructure Case Study: East Kolkata Wetlands Urban Stormwater Management Lake and Nala Restoration Implementation Strategy Priority Project Case Study: Burnaby Lake Rejuvenation The Sustainable Water Suply Plan BETTER LAKES, BETTER BANGALORE: VISION PLAN 2 Introduction: Purpose Of The Vision Plan “ We have the moral responsibility to bequeath to our children a world which is safe, clean and productive, a world which should continue to inspire the human imagination with the immensity of the blue ocean, the loftiness of snow-covered mountains,the green expanse of extensive forests and the silver streams of ancient rivers.” Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh The lakes of Bangalore, some which date protected and are in good condition. The agreement with the Bangalore Develop- and support from private and non-gov- as far back as the sixteenth century, were lakes and streams that remain are a re- ment Authority in 2012 with the primary ernmental stakeholders. This Vision Plan created by damming streams in the four source for many of the half million poverty purpose of developing a vision for the recognizes this challenge and as such natural valley systems in Bangalore. They stricken city dwellers who continue to use lakes of Bangalore and a framework proposes a dynamic solution that revolves were built as a public utility to provide the polluted water—spreading disease for their regeneration. This Vision Plan around the preparation of a Sustainable water for drinking, irrigation, ! shing and and sickness. In addition, the city has lost de! nes goals and guiding principles for Water Supply Plan for the City of Banga- other uses. However, during the past 30 an important connection to its history and lake regeneration; covers approaches to lore. Internationally, as the current global years the lakes have undergone signi! cant faces dire water shortages with nearly one combating the primary water resource water crisis has intensi! ed, Water Supply degradation due to urbanization. This third of projected water demand unlikely challenges; and proposes a process for the Plans have proven to be an e" ective tool to degradation, in the form of in! ll, pollution to be met. During this rapid period of implementation of a comprehensive plan. combat rapid growth and the challenges and the alteration of drainage patterns, urbanization the City has stressed water The regeneration of the lakes of Bangalore that come with an unpredictable climate. has turned the lakes into a public health supplies to the point of near disaster while is an undertaking that is bigger than one Implementation of such a plan will allow and environmental justice o" ender. Out of unable to meet the growing demand. agency can handle and more complex the City of Bangalore to realize its the over 280 original lakes and tanks in the The Sherwood Institute, in collaboration than a single plan can detail. The process potential, regenerate its lakes, and move city, only a fraction remain, and of those, with Invicus Engineering and Carollo will involve collaboration among agencies through the 21st Century in a sustainable only a handful have been restored, Engineers, signed a memorandum of both at the state and local level with input manner. BETTER LAKES, BETTER BANGALORE: VISION PLAN 3 Introduction: Stakeholder Outreach Process The creation and successful implementa- Local Stakeholders Several other actors in each of these tion of a comprehensive restoration plan sectors are undertaking signi! cant e" orts Public Private Academic for the lakes of Bangalore must involve / NGO toward the rejuvenation of Bangalore’s the participation of a variety of actors in lakes. Sherwood Institute’s process has • Lake Development • CREDAI • India Water Portal the public, private and non-governmental harnessed the energy and awareness Authority (LDA) sectors. Several agencies have undertaken raised by the e" orts of these stakeholders • Nicole Faria • ATREE e" orts to clean up individual lakes. How- to date. The Sherwood Institute has had • Bangalore Water and ever, successful planning for Bangalore’s an ongoing collaboration with represen- Sewage Board (BWSSB) • Various Multi-national • The Centre of Ecological water resources and lake restoration falls tatives of the BDA for two years including Corporations Sciences at IISc Bangalore across the jurisdiction of various govern- a memorandum of agreement signed in • Karnataka Pollution ment departments, and requires their a 2012 and participation in a workshop in Control Baord (KPCB) • Various developers • The Centre for Science cooperation for long-term success. July, 2013. and Environment • Bruhat Bangalore Maintaining longterm health of the lakes Key Stakeholder Outreach: Mahangara Palike • Environment Support of Bangalore will succeed if both local (BBMP) Group citizens and corporate tenants, have • In February, 2013 stakeholder interviews a stake in their success. This includes were held to solicit feedback from public, • Bangalore Development • Save Our Lakes groups engaging them in the restoration e" orts, private, and NGO stakeholders. Authority (BDA) and/or giving them a perceived bene! t, such as access to open space or increased • A digital campaign was run in May and • Environmental property values, after restoration is com- June of 2013 which targeted feedback Management and plete. from grass roots organizations and the Policy Reasearch Institute general public. (EMPRI) • Stakeholder Workshops in July 2013 included a multi-agency discussion on major issues and key aspects of plan implementation. BETTER LAKES, BETTER BANGALORE: VISION PLAN 4 The Challenge: Background Bangalore is known as the Garden residents. nomic resources for surrounding residents only 30% of Bangalore’s 282 lakes remain City. Termperate climate, numerous The lakes and nalas of Bangalore and as a major urban amenity that is key and it is estimated that 60% of remaining lakes and signi! cant gardens have driven were originally built as a public utility, to making Bangalore a global destination lakes in Bangalore are partially fed by Bangalore’s reputation as a living envi- available to all, providing water to the cit- to attract businesses and talent. sewage. Bangalore’s success can be easily ronment that is more moderate than most izens of Bangalore. They captured rainwa- Since 1970, Bangalore has grown undermined if the water systems are not major Indian cities. Its attraction as a ter and allowed it to in! ltrate into aqui- by 632%. During this period, the Met- protected and restored appropriately. They destination for International Technology fers, provided habitat for various species of ropolitan area has lost almost 80% of its will continue to degrade the physical and and Industry is, in part, driven by these birds, and contributed to the livelihoods of water bodies and more than 75% of its environmental quality of the city. factors and contributed to its growth. ! shermen, farmers, and brickmakers. The vegetative cover. The result is a major However, this growth in turn threatens lakes of Bangalore continue to play a criti- increase in ambient temperature, poorer the very elements that makes Bangalore cal role in the city, in providing moderation air quality, reduced aquifer recharge, and an attractive location for businesses and of urban climate, home for wildlife, eco- a falling groundwater table. Currently , BETTER LAKES, BETTER BANGALORE: VISION PLAN 5 The Challenge: Land Use Currently the lakes are used in a variety of ways, though seldom as a water resource. The lakes have lost their historic YELLAMMA CATCHMENT importance as a source of water for drink- ing and washing and of clay for brickmak- ing. Most of Bangalore’s drinking water is derived from the Cauvery River, almost 100 DODDA BOMMASANDRAN LAKE kilometers away. HEBBALL LAKE While the nalas that feed the NAGAVARA LAKE lakes enjoy some legal protection,