Telescope treat for birdwatchers in Bengaluru's Lalbagh Lake

Jagdish also said all the drainage water entering the lake earlier had now been stopped completely.
Lalbagh Lake. | (File | EPS)
Lalbagh Lake. | (File | EPS)

BENGALURU: A telescope to watch birds in Lalbagh lake, a mesh system to trap trash entering the lake and aerators to improve oxygen content are among the initiatives planned for the Lalbagh Botanical garden by the Horticulture Department.  

The initiatives focused on the lake, involve steps to both improve the health of the lake and to make it better for visitors.

M Jagdish, Joint Director of Horticulture, said that since the wetland near the shore of the lake was attracting many birds, a telescope on a raised platform is being planned to be constructed, to facilitate bird watching.

Jagdish also said all the drainage water entering the lake earlier had now been stopped completely.

“During rains, a lot of plastic and garbage would flow into the stormwater drain connecting the lake. We have now created a mesh system at the water inlet, so whatever it traps is cleared at regular intervals,” he said.

Meanwhile, the department has submitted a report which stated that the amount of dissolved oxygen in the lake was low. To increase the content, eleven aerators have been set up in the lake, and more could be added in future, said MR Chandrashekar, Deputy Director, Horticulture Department. “The German auto parts firm Bosch has supplied the aerators worth `30 lakh, and installed solar panels to operate them,” he said.

On the ornamental side, 250 lotus flowers of 30 different varieties were planted a month ago in the lake. Water hyacinth, weed grass and other weeds have been removed from the lake, while the litter in the park has been cleared.

The Department also said that it had banned the feeding of stray dogs and birds within the garden to make the garden litter-free.

The cost of installing the planned features is still being worked out, an official said.

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