₹391-crore revival plan approved to cleanse Byramangala lake in Bengaluru

State government clears joint BWSSB-Minor Irrigation project to stop sewage inflow, build a new STP, and restore the heavily polluted Byramangala lake within three years.

After decades of severe pollution caused by untreated sewage from the Vrushabhavathi river, Byramangala Lake on the outskirts of Bengaluru is set for a major revival. The Karnataka government has approved a ₹391-crore rejuvenation project, marking a significant step towards restoring the long-contaminated waterbody.

According to government sources, the Minor Irrigation Department, which manages the lake, will jointly execute the project with the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). The work aims to completely prevent untreated sewage from entering the lake and restore it as a reliable water resource.

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Minor Irrigation Minister N.S. Boseraju confirmed that the state cabinet has given its nod to the proposal. He said BWSSB will play a key role in implementation. As part of the plan, a new sewage treatment plant (STP) will be constructed close to the lake to ensure that no raw or untreated sewage from upstream reaches Byramangala. In addition, embankment strengthening and other rejuvenation measures will be carried out to restore the lake’s ecology.

The minister noted that earlier attempts to divert sewage away from the lake, including a proposed canal planned with the Forest, Environment and Ecology Department, could not move forward due to a pending petition before the Karnataka High Court. With cabinet approval now in place, the dedicated STP near the lake has been cleared.

Spread across nearly 1,000 acres, Byramangala Lake once supported the livelihoods of people in over 20 surrounding villages. Over the years, continuous inflow of untreated sewage from Bengaluru through the Vrushabhavathi river severely degraded the lake’s water quality.

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BWSSB Chairperson Ram Prasath Manohar said the proposed STP alone would cost around ₹230 crore and is expected to be operational within three years. Once commissioned, the plant will treat about 100 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. The tertiary treated, ultra-pure water will then be released into the lake as part of the third phase of the Vrushabhavathi valley project. He added that the treatment capacity will be enhanced further in later stages.

The first two phases of the Vrushabhavathi valley project, located at Nayandahalli and Mylasandra within Bengaluru, are already operational. These facilities are currently supplying treated water to the Minor Irrigation Department to replenish more than 100 lakes in Ramanagara and Nelamangala taluks.

Minister Boseraju also pointed out that sewage overflow beyond the two existing STPs continues to enter Byramangala Lake, worsening pollution levels. To address this, the lake will be desilted, with accumulated polluted deposits removed before clean water is introduced. The government plans to complete the entire rejuvenation project by 2028–29.

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