July 17, 2025
    |   1,494 Comments
    |   SBBM
    |   11:42 am

Partnering with Samsung for the Rejuvenation of the Lake at Shikaripalya, Bengaluru

  • SSIR (Samsung Semiconductor India Research) and Oasis foundation signed an MoU on the 4Th of February 2022, to rejuvenate the 19-acre Shikari Palya lake in Hulimangala gram panchayat, Electronic city.
  • Due to years of city waste accumulation, sludge formation and non-availability of proper treatment systems and years of abuse of feeder drains to the lake with sewage water had choked the entire ecosystem of the lake. The lake stood as a dead lake with no clean water and no aquatic life.

Intervention and Impact of Phase 1

De weeding and sludge removal, de silting and bund strengthening along with the reconditioning of the inlets and outlets and lagoon creation resulted in sludge and silt removal of 14344 cu Mt and 43312 Cu Mt respectively that led to increasing water availability for domestic and agricultural use as well as enhanced the scope for aquatic life to thrive. Moreover, the silt was used for strengthening bunds and walking path around the lake.

Intervention and Impact of Phase 2

Silt removal from the lakebed to the bund, Wadelia and Cana plantations and clearing encroachments and other allied activities along with the diversion of sewage entering the Lake directly to the outlet and building of trenches on the extended road ensured no further seepage of sewage into the lakes.

Intervention and Impact of Phase 3

Bund strengthening and natural sewage treatment system and planning aquatic plants for water purification and clearing encroachments were some of the initiatives undertaken. This led to enhanced lake capacities of around 30.7 crore litres of water. Moreover, around 500 people come for morning walks around the lake from the neighbouring communities and the forest department has since planted 1800 saplings. Post the visit of the National Green Tribunal to the site, we expect the case against them around the Shikaripalya lake to be resolved with this initiative by Oasis Foundation. 

By the end of 3 years, 1800 trees will result in 45,000 Kgs of carbon sync per year resulting in major improvement in the health of the slum dwellers around the lake. The recharging of 150 borewells around the lake will result in up to 3 inches of water output, which will benefit at least 2 to 3 villages with an average population of 1500 people in each village. Further, the Natural sewage treatment plant will start working after flora and fauna develops in the area. Lakes in the lower catchment area will receive cleaner water.

However, this did not come without major challenges.

Some of the challenges that we had to overcome.

The rains started early this year which stalled the work around the creation of the bund as                                                                   the earth movers could not operate after heavy rains. Moreover, this also caused disruption and reworking.

Difficulties were faced by the community members; however, our supervisors were on the field even at midnight to help these community members.

There was sludge even at 15Ft depth, which had to be maneuverer to create safe separation needed for the natural sewage treatment plant.

Plastic waste previously dumped in the lake caused massive impediments to the completion of the work. Moreover, there was seepage between lakes due to the pores created by plastic.Lastly, vacating the encroached slums posed difficulties.