Lakes in Bengaluru

Lakes are called keres ({{Lang|kn|ಕೆರೆ}}) in Kannada language,{{Cite web |last=Roy |first=Labonie |date=2021-09-20 |title=A to Z guide to Bengaluru's lakes |url=https://bengaluru.citizenmatters.in/a-to-z-lake-biodiversity-booklet-bengaluru-67456 |access-date=2022-09-11 |website=Citizen Matters, Bengaluru |publisher=Citizen Matters (Also published by Mongabay)}} and are traditionally referred to as tanks.{{Cite web |last=D'souza |first=Rohan |date=31 August 2014 |title=When lakes were tanks |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/when-lakes-were-tanks-45815 |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Down to Earth}} Researcher Rohan D'Souza has suggested that the concept of 'kere' and 'lake' differ; for example the former also refers to the wetland and bund while the latter focuses more on a body of water surrounded by land.{{Cite journal |last=Baindur |first=Meera |date=2014 |title=Bangalore Lake story: reflections on the spirit of a place |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/08873631.2013.873296 |journal=Journal of Cultural Geography |language=en |publisher=Taylor & Francis |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=37 |doi=10.1080/08873631.2013.873296 |issn=0887-3631 |url-access=limited |s2cid=144375360}} When the forest department started to have a larger role in the administration of these waterbodies in the 1980s the word 'lake' started to be used as compared to 'kere' or 'tank'.{{Cite journal |last=D'Souza |first=Rohan |date=2017 |title=Contested Governance of Wetlands in Bangalore |url=https://journals.jgu.edu.in/index.php?journal=jjpp&page=article&op=view&path%5B%5D=113 |journal=Jindal Journal of Public Policy |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=71–80 |doi=10.54945/jjpp.v3i1.113 |s2cid=257442682 |url-access=subscription }} In accordance with this terminology, communication and practices related to these waterbodies were impacted. Anthropologist Smriti Srinivas writes that tank is also a simplification that incorporates both natural and manmade waterbodies into its context since identification of bodies of water in the region that were historically natural is a task.{{Sfn|Srinivas|2001|p=38|loc=Although natural lakes existed in the region, these manmade "tanks," as they are commonly called in south India ... Since it is difficult to say which bodies of water were natural and which manmade, I use the word "tank" to designate any such body in the Bangalore region.}} A 1986 report classifies some tanks as 'disused' tanks.{{Sfn|Srinivas|2001|p=51}}

There is no specific definition for what a lake is in India.{{Citation |last1=Reddy |first1=M. S. |title=Management of Lakes in India |date=10 March 2004 |url=http://www.worldlakes.org/uploads/Management_of_lakes_in_India_10Mar04.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050529014441/http://www.worldlakes.org/uploads/Management_of_lakes_in_India_10Mar04.pdf |url-status=usurped |archive-date=29 May 2005 |publisher=World Lakes Website |last2=Char |first2=N. V. V.}}{{Cite report |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep37849 |title=Protection and Management of Urban Lakes in India |author= |date=2012 |publisher=Centre for Science and Environment |jstor=resrep37849}} Urban lakes also have no specific definition.{{Cite web |last=Jainer |first=Shivali |date=3 January 2020 |title=How do India's policies and guidelines look at 'urban lakes'? |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/blog/urbanisation/how-do-india-s-policies-and-guidelines-look-at-urban-lakes--68662 |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=Down to Earth}} In Bangalore, smaller waterbodies 1-3 acre in size are called gokattes and waterbodies less than 1 acre are called kuntes.{{Cite web |last=Rao |first=Mohit M. |date=19 October 2020 |title=Katte and Kunte: The smaller, lesser-known water bodies that Bengaluru is losing to concrete |url=https://scroll.in/article/975998/katte-and-kunte-the-smaller-lesser-known-water-bodies-that-bengaluru-is-losing-to-concrete |access-date=2022-09-29 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}} The words kere and katte go back to usage by the Hoysala's.{{Sfn|Nagendra|2016|loc=Chapter 9|p=164-165}} Kaluves can be translated as canals,{{Cite journal |last=Nagendra |first=Harini |author-link=Harini Nagendra |date=September 2010 |title=Maps, lakes and citizens |url=http://atree.org/sites/default/files/articles/2010_seminar_lakes.pdf |journal=Seminar |issue=613 |pages=19–23 |via=Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)}} while in the context of Bangalore rajakaluves refer to bigger or large canals, channels or drains, specifically storm water drains, that connect the lake cascades.{{Cite web |last=VL |first=Prakash |date=22 April 2022 |title=Bengaluru's rajakaluves are in dire need of attention |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/bengalurus-rajakaluves-are-in-dire-need-of-attention/articleshow/90987623.cms |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=Bangalore Mirror}} Kalyanis refer to square tanks used for immersion (see temple tanks).{{Cite web |last=Thomas |first=Bellie |date=4 February 2022 |title=A step back in time |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/a-step-back-in-time/articleshow/89330510.cms |access-date=2022-11-16 |website=Bangalore Mirror |language=en}}{{Sfn|Srinivas|2001|p=42}} Other bodies of water include a well, 'bhavi', and pond for domestic use, 'kola'.{{Sfn|Srinivas|2001|p=42}}

Rainwater has been stored in reservoirs or irrigation tanks in the Indian subcontinent for many centuries.{{Sfn|Nagendra|2016|loc=Chapter 9|p=160-161}} In Bangalore and the surrounding regions of Mysore these tanks numbered in the thousands and varied in size according to the rains.{{Sfn|Nagendra|2016|loc=Chapter 9|p=160-161}} They were made primarily for the purposes of irrigation and drinking water, and secondary uses such as fishing, washing and other domestic needs.{{Cite web |last=D'Souza |first=Rohan s |date=2007 |title=Impact of Privatisation of Lakes in Bangalore |url=http://www.doccentre.net/docsweb/Rohan_final_report_lakes_privatisation.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029235017/http://www.doccentre.net/docsweb/Rohan_final_report_lakes_privatisation.php |archive-date=29 October 2008 |access-date=8 September 2022 |website=Centre for Education and Documentation}} Inscriptions provide some insight into their history.{{Cite news |last=Nagendra |first=Harini |date=2015-06-22 |title=Blessings and curses: the construction of lakes in Bengaluru |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/blessings-and-curses-the-construction-of-lakes-in-bengaluru/article7339775.ece |access-date=2022-09-28 |issn=0971-751X}} The history and creation of the reservoirs is linked to different empires, dynasties and periods of the British Raj.{{Sfn|Nagendra|2016|loc=Chapter 9|p=162-166}} The Ganga and Chola dynasty, the Hoysala Empire, the Vijayanagara Empire, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan and the Wadiyar dynasty are all associated tanks in Bangalore, including their creation, maintenance and use.{{Sfn|Nagendra|2016|loc=Chapter 9|p=162-166}} These tanks or lakes along with open water wells constituted the water supply infrastructure.{{Cite journal |last1=Sen |first1=Amrita |last2=Unnikrishnan |first2=Hita |last3=Nagendra |first3=Harini |date=2021 |title=Restoration of Urban Water Commons: Navigating Social-Ecological Fault Lines and Inequities |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/19/article/793665 |journal=Ecological Restoration |volume=39 |issue=1 |pages=120–129 |doi=10.3368/er.39.1-2.120 |s2cid=235362713 |issn=1543-4079|doi-access=free }} Socio-economic factors, population distribution, caste, and wealth affected interaction with water bodies.{{Sfn|Nagendra|2016|loc=Chapter 9|p=164, 166-168}} The neerganti were organised labour traditionally associated with regulating irrigation water.{{Sfn|Shah|2003|p=vi}}{{Cite web |last=Chandran |first=Rahul |date=2016-10-15 |title=Like Bengaluru's lakes, the Neerghantis are disappearing |url=https://www.livemint.com/Sundayapp/VQpkvGMwnmJ8PgMGwJU1lI/Like-Bengalurus-lakes-the-Neerghantis-are-disappearing.html |access-date=2022-09-28 |website=Livemint}} Voddas were the tank builders.{{Sfn|Shah|2003|p=vii, 59}} The traditional well diggers are the Manu Waddar.{{Cite web |last=Kaggere |first=Niranjan |date=2021-10-03 |title=Project to rejuvenate city's groundwater brings livelihood, respect to traditional well-diggers |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/city/project-to-rejuvenate-city-s-groundwater-brings-livelihood-respect-to-traditional-well-diggers-1036774.html |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Coushik |first=Ramya |date=7 October 2020 |title=The Indian megacity digging a million wells |url=https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201006-india-why-bangalore-is-digging-a-million-wells |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=BBC |language=en}} The Vanniyakula Kshtriya or Thigala were horticulturists associated with lakes such as Sampangi.{{Cite journal |last1=Unnikrishnan |first1=Hita |last2=Manjunatha |first2=B |last3=Nagendra |first3=Harini |date=2016 |title=Contested urban commons: mapping the transition of a lake to a sports stadium in Bangalore |journal=International Journal of the Commons |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=265–293 |doi=10.18352/ijc.616 |issn=1875-0281 |s2cid=147676903|doi-access=free |hdl=10535/10025 |hdl-access=free }} They brought the Karaga celebration to Bangalore.{{Cite web |last=Menezes |first=Naveen |date=2022-04-11 |title=Sampangi Tank, centre of Karaga festivities, to be spruced up |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/city/life-in-bengaluru/sampangi-tank-centre-of-karaga-festivities-to-be-spruced-up-1099579.html |access-date=2022-11-20 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} The roles of these communities have been diluted over time.{{Sfn|Nagendra|2016|loc=Chapter 9. Changes in Governance and the Decay of Lakes.|p=175-177}} Cultural and religious associations abound.{{Cite news |last1=Mundoli |first1=Seema |last2=Unnikrishnan |first2=Hita |last3=Manjunatha |first3=B. |last4=Nagendra |first4=Harini |date=2015-06-24 |title=The sacred lakes of Bengaluru |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/the-sacred-lakes-of-bengaluru/article7346811.ece |access-date=2022-09-28 |issn=0971-751X}} Urbanisation has had diverse but mixed influence on these communities.{{Cite journal |last1=Sen |first1=Amrita |last2=Nagendra |first2=Harini |date=2021 |title=The differentiated impacts of urbanisation on lake communities in Bengaluru, India |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19463138.2020.1770260 |journal=International Journal of Urban Sustainable Development |language=en |volume=13 |issue=1 |pages=17–31 |doi=10.1080/19463138.2020.1770260 |bibcode=2021IJUSD..13...17S |issn=1946-3138 |s2cid=219745918|url-access=subscription }} It is often the case that when the history of these tanks is discussed it is idealized.{{Cite journal |last1=Castán Broto |first1=Vanesa |last2=Sudhira |first2=H S |last3=Unnikrishnan |first3=Hita |date=2021 |title=Walk the Pipeline : Urban Infrastructure Landscapes in Bengaluru's Long Twentieth Century |journal=International Journal of Urban and Regional Research |language=en |volume=45 |issue=4 |pages=696–715 |doi=10.1111/1468-2427.12985 |issn=0309-1317 |s2cid=234087370|doi-access=free }}

File:Ulsoor_1834.jpg, 1834|alt=Old sketch. The lake is visible. Some huts. A few people. Buildings in the distance.]]

{{Multiple image

| image1 = Bangalore map 1878.png

| image2 = Bangalore 1935.jpg

| footer = View the georeferenced maps in the Wikimaps Warper

| image3 =

| header =

| direction = vertical

| alt1 = An old map of Bangalore

| caption1 = 1878, Survey of India

| caption2 = 1900/1935, Bartholomew

| caption3 = Murray's 1924 Handbook

| alt2 = An old map of Bangalore

| align = right

| total_width =

}}

The dependence on tanks and other sources of water such as wells reduced with the implementation of schemes that brought water from Hesaraghatta Lake in 1894, T G Halli Reservoir in 1933, and Cauvery River from the 1970s.{{Cite web |last=Smitha |first=K. C. |date=2004 |title=Urban Governance and Bangalore Water Supply & Sewerage Board (BWSSB) |url=http://www.isec.ac.in/Urban%20Governance.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060719082806/http://www.isec.ac.in/Urban%20Governance.PDF |archive-date=19 July 2006 |publisher=Bangalore: Institute of Social and Economic Change}} Borewells also reduced dependence on reservoirs.{{Cite journal |last1=Bareuther |first1=Mischa |last2=Klinge |first2=Michael |last3=Buerkert |first3=Andreas |date=2020 |title=Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Algae and Macrophyte Cover in Urban Lakes: A Remote Sensing Analysis of Bellandur and Varthur Wetlands in Bengaluru, India |journal=Remote Sensing |language=en |volume=12 |issue=22 |pages=3843 |doi=10.3390/rs12223843 |bibcode=2020RemS...12.3843B |issn=2072-4292|doi-access=free }} The Dharmambudhi Tank is used as an example to portray historical change,{{Cite journal |last1=Unnikrishnan |first1=Hita |last2=B. |first2=Manjunatha |last3=Nagendra |first3=Harini |last4=Castán Broto |first4=Vanesa |date=2020 |title=Water governance and the colonial urban project: the Dharmambudhi lake in Bengaluru, India |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02723638.2019.1709756 |journal=Urban Geography |language=en |volume=42 |issue=3 |pages=263–288 |doi=10.1080/02723638.2019.1709756 |s2cid=213788797 |issn=0272-3638 |url-access=subscription}} and change of a commons in Bangalore over the centuries.{{Cite journal |last1=Nagendra |first1=Harini |last2=Unnikrishnan |first2=Hita |date=Spring 2019 |title=The Lake That Became a Bus Terminus. |url=http://www.environmentandsociety.org/node/8493/ |journal=Arcadia |language=en |publisher=Rachel Carson Center for Environment and Society |issue=2 |doi=10.5282/RCC/8493 |issn=2199-3408 |quote=The story of Dharmambudhi lake is thus one of the transformation of an urban commons to ... |via=Environment & Society Portal}} The tank goes back to at least the 16th century; some historical references point to a much earlier reservoir at the same location.{{Cite news |last=Bharadwaj |first=K. V. Aditya |date=2019-05-30 |title=Majestic @ 50: When our bus station was a lake... |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/majestic-50-when-our-bus-station-was-a-lake/article27346867.ece |access-date=2022-11-23 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |date=2010 |others=Nishant Ratnakar and Badekkila Pradeep |title=Err- bane Truth - Dharmambudhi Tank |url=https://thewaterchannel.tv/videos/err-bane-truth-dharmambudhi-tank/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=TheWaterChannel |language=en-US}} The lake would be used until the end of the 19th century after which is saw unchecked decay as a waterbody.{{Cite web |last=Pai |first=Roopa |date=2022-06-07 |title=The welcoming ways of Gandhinagar |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/bengaluru-news/the-welcoming-ways-of-gandhinagar-101654541756434.html |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}} However its lakebed was located in prime area and continued to be used for various events, festivals, and gatherings.{{Cite web |last1=Unnikrishnan |first1=Hita |last2=Nagendra |first2=Harini |date=2017 |title=Of Flash Floods and a Lost Indian Waterscape |url=https://www.thenatureofcities.com/2017/11/21/flash-floods-lost-waterscape/ |access-date=2022-09-20 |website=The Nature of Cities}} Part of the lakebed was still wetland and had wells. In the 1960s a portion of the lakebed was set aside for the construction of a bus stand.{{Cite web |last=G N |first=Prashanth |date=2014-11-09 |title=Dharmambudhi, from a water tank to a bus station |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/440446/dharmambudhi-water-tank-bus-station.html |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} Of the many channels and lakes that were connected to Dharmabudhi in the past such as the former Sampangi Lake, Kempambudhi Lake and Sankey Tank remain.

Sampangi lake supported both the Pete and cantonment. It provided irrigation for millet and paddy cultivation. Construction in the area included a park in 1879, a hospital in 1886 and a school in 1898. Around 1895 the lake stopped being used officially as a water source and inflow channels severed. There were contesting claims as to how the lake and lakebed should be used. By 1935 all that remained was a small square tank. On the lakebed several constructions followed. An eponymously named stadium was constructed on a portion of Sampangi lake in 1946, now known as the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. This was followed by an increase in surrounding built up area. In 1995, another portion of the former wetland was used to build the Kanteerava Indoor Stadium.

Lakes or tanks, including dry ones, have been converted to commercial areas, industries, government buildings, bus stands, sports facilities, playgrounds and residential colonies, a few tanks were breached under a malaria eradication programme.{{Cite web |title=Once a beautiful lake |url=http://parisaramahiti.kar.nic.in/lostlakes.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409235954/http://parisaramahiti.kar.nic.in/lostlakes.html |archive-date=9 April 2009 |access-date=8 September 2022 |website=ENVIS Centre |quote=The Kempegowda Bus Stand located on the once Dharmambudhi Lake.}}{{Cite web |last=Chandra NS |first=Subhash |date=2009-09-15 |title=Vanishing lakes: Time to act now |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/25285/vanishing-lakes-time-act-now.html |access-date=2022-09-08 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} When Bangalore Golf Course was formed in 1876, it was located in the center of the city, and then land was relatively easily obtained.{{Cite book |last=Inglis |first=Patrick |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AcSbDwAAQBAJ |title=Narrow Fairways: Getting by and Falling Behind in the New India |date=2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-066476-3 |pages=40–42 |language= |via=Google Books}} In 1973 the Karnataka Golf Association was formed and the members started looking for a location to set up a golf course. Among the several locations Challaghatta lake or tank was suggested, then located on the outskirts of the city. At the time there were ample lakes in the city and not much fuss was made related to the lake itself.{{Cite book |last=Inglis |first=Patrick |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=J8-aDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT247 |title=Mapping the Elite: Power, Privilege, and Inequality |date=2019 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-909791-3 |editor-last=Jodhka |editor-first=Surinder S. |language=en |chapter=6. 'Take This Land' A Brief History of the Karnataka Golf Association |editor-last2=Naudet |editor-first2=Jules|via=Google Books}} After a number of administrative processes involving multiple departments of the local administration and multiple Chief Ministers, and conversion of the area into a golf course designed by an Australian architectural firm, the first 9 holes were inaugurated in 1986. Multiple national and international golf tournaments have been held at the course.{{Cite web |title=KGA History |url=https://www.kga.in/about-us/ |access-date=18 November 2022 |website=Karnataka Golf Association}}

In 1986 the Lakshman Rau committee (under a retired administrative officer; see N. Madhava Rao){{Relevance inline|discuss=Is stating that he was an administration officer and related to a Diwan important necessary, even as a footnote? While it says nothing of the report itself or the outcome, it does provide some context as to who the report was under.|date=December 2022}} came out with a report highlighting the failure to maintain various tanks and made comments covering lake boundaries, water quality, the construction of tree parks in areas breached, to monitoring and conducting further study for new tanks.{{Cite report |url=https://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/default/files/iwp2/report_of_the_expert_committee_for_preservation_restoration_or_otherwise_of_the_existing_tanks_in_bangalore_metropolitan_area_laxman_rau_1986.pdf |title=Report of the expert committee for preservation, restoration or otherwise of the existing tanks in Bangalore metropolitan area |date=1986}} via indiawaterportal.org{{Cite web |title=A Major Milestone |url=http://www.ldakarnataka.co.in/milestone.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405183335/http://www.ldakarnataka.co.in/milestone.htm |archive-date=5 April 2009 |website=Lake Development Authority}} The committee identified 127 lakes and transferred 90 to the forest department.{{Sfn|Thippaiah|2009|p=7-8}} Since the 1980s custody of the lakes in the city has seen numerous changes.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2019-12-14 |title=BBMP gets custody of 38 lakes |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/bbmp-gets-custody-of-38-lakes/article30308137.ece |access-date=2022-09-30 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2018-01-26 |title=Minor Irrigation Department to look after Bengaluru lakes? |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/260118/minor-irrigation-department-to-look-after-bengaluru-lakes.html |access-date=2022-10-03 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}} The former Lake Development Authority experimented with public–private participation which included leasing out of four lakes.{{Cite web |last=Kozhisseri |first=Deepa |date=15 May 2008 |title=Bangalore lakes leased out |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/bangalore-lakes-leased-out-4586 |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Down to Earth |language=en}} Government administration of the lakes in the city mainly fall under a few urban local and state regulatory bodies.{{Cite web |last=Swaraj |first=Shilpa M. |date=2022-07-21 |title=Whom do you call to fix your lake? |url=https://bengaluru.citizenmatters.in/lake-conservation-authorities-groups-bengaluru-85524 |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=Citizen Matters, Bengaluru |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2015 |title=Performance audit on Conservation and Ecological restoration of Lakes under the jurisdiction of Lake Development Authority and Urban Local Bodies |url=https://agkar.cag.gov.in/docs/Lakes%20report/Lake%20_(English)%20Final%20Report.pdf |publisher=Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India |page=7 |quote=Entities involved in conservation and restoration of lakes}} Outside the city management is under the village and district Panchayats, and the Minor Irrigations department depending on the size of the lake. Others forms of participation in the form of corporate social responsibility, general public involvement, including coordination with government efforts, and formation of lake groups, has resulted in some lakes seeing successful attempts at conservation and rejuvenation.{{Cite web |last=Thakur |first=Aksheev |date=2022-02-13 |title=Lakes of Bengaluru: Chunchaghatta lake restored, experts recommend ways to improve water quality |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/lakes-of-bengaluru-chunchaghatta-lake-restored-experts-recommend-ways-to-improve-water-quality-7769699/ |url-access=subscription |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=The Indian Express |ref=Thakur2022}}{{indented plainlist|indent=2em|

• {{Cite news |date=2021-02-13 |title=More lakes to be restored from CSR funds, says Minister |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/more-lakes-to-be-restored-from-csr-funds-says-minister/article33832268.ece |access-date=2022-09-25 |issn=0971-751X}}
• {{Cite web |last=Kulkarni |first=Chiranjeevi |date=2020-01-13 |title=Drive to restore Jakkur Lake wins praise |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-infrastructure/drive-to-restore-jakkur-lake-wins-praise-793952.html |access-date=2022-09-25 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}}
• {{Cite web |date=2022-01-17 |title=Meet mechanical engineer Anand Malligavad, who left his job to revive Bengaluru's dying lakes |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/anand-malligavad-mechanical-engineer-bengaluru-lakes-rejuvenation-conservation-7716190/ |access-date=2022-09-30 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
• {{Citation |last=Chowdhury |first=N. Noireeta |title=Analysing the influence of institutional arrangements on sustainability of lake basins in Bangalore, India |date=September 2019 |url=https://thesis.eur.nl/pub/51920 |publisher=Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies, Erasmus University Rotterdam}}
• {{Cite news |last1=Selvam |first1=Divya |last2=V |first2=Aishwarya |date=2019-07-30 |title=In Bengaluru, citizen groups lead the way in revival of lakes |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/citizen-groups-lead-the-way-in-revival-of-lakes/article28763937.ece |access-date=28 November 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}}}

There are numerous measures undertaken, debated and contested by stakeholders in relation to the rejuvenation (restoration, revival, rehabilitation, conservation) of lakes.

{{indented plainlist|indent=2em|

• {{Cite web |last=Khanna |first=Bosky |date=13 February 2020 |title=Lake revival action faulty, say greens, civic groups |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2020/feb/13/lake-revival-action-faulty-say-greens-civic-groups-2102673.html |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=The New Indian Express}}
• {{Cite web |last=Venkatesh |first=Sangeeta |date=15 November 2019 |title=Case Study: Successful Rejuvenation of a Bengaluru lake |url=https://www.cleanindiajournal.com/case-study-successful-rejuvenation-of-a-bengaluru-lake/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=Clean India Journal |language=en-US |quote=The rehabilitation and rejuvenation of Kundalahalli Lake ...}}
• {{Cite web |title=Urban waterbodies. The Essence of Waterbody Rejuvenation. Lake Rejuvenation Process |url=https://site.bbmp.gov.in/departmentwebsites/Lakes/UWB.html |website=Lakes Department |publisher=Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike |quote=Waterbody rejuvenation encompasses the following ... Restoring ... Conserving ... Reviving ... Managing |ref=BBMPwebsite}}
• {{Cite web |last=Thakur |first=Aksheev |date=2022-06-19 |title=Lakes of Bengaluru: BBMP begins rejuvenation of Gowdanakere; activists call desilting process faulty |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/lakes-of-bengaluru-bbmp-rejuvenation-gowdanakere-activists-desilting-process-faulty-7977499/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
• {{Cite news |author=Staff Reporter |date=2021-03-04 |title=Concerns over restoration process of Doddakallasandra lake |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/concerns-over-restoration-process-of-doddakallasandra-lake/article33983036.ece |access-date=2022-11-15 |issn=0971-751X}}}} Failure of these processes has been observed.{{Sfn|Thippaiah|2009|p=26-28}} Urbanization has impacted the lakes in various ways, some lakes have completely disappeared, others have been reduced to pools, some have been encroached upon, some are in various stages of deterioration, some have dried up, and some have been leased.{{Sfn|Thippaiah|2009|p=10}} The Koliwad committee, set up by the Karnataka legislature in 2014,{{Cite web |last=Sengupta |first=Sushmita |date=12 January 2016 |title=Karnataka government reveals sad state of Bengaluru lakes |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/water/bengaluru-not-yet-learnt-a-lesson-from-chennai-52407 |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Down to Earth}} reported thousands of acres of encroachment of lake land.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=16 March 2016 |title=Lake land grabbers get time till March 31 |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/civic/lake-land-grabbers-get-time-till-march-31/articleshow/51416145.cms |access-date=2022-09-22 |website=Bangalore Mirror |language=en}}

File:Bangalore elevation with NS ridge and valley labels.png

The topographic setting of the city has radial slopes towards east and west with a smooth ridge running north to south; rainfall over the ridge area gets divided and flows east or west into the three gentle slopes and valleys of Koramangala–Challagatta, Hebbal and Vrishabavathi. The average elevation is roughly {{convert|900|m|ft|abbr=on|1}}. These naturally undulating terrain of hills and valleys lends itself to the development of tanks that can capture and store rainwater. Small streams are formed by each valley starting with the ridge at the top. A series of shallow tanks varying in size are developed by the construction of bunds.{{Cite web |title=About lakes of Bangalore |url=http://www.ldakarnataka.co.in/about_lakes.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405183308/http://www.ldakarnataka.co.in/about_lakes.htm |archive-date=5 April 2009 |website=Lake Development Authority}}{{Cite web |title=Study Area: Bangalore |url=http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/wetlands/sarea.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716221547/http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/wetlands/sarea.html |archive-date=16 July 2012 |access-date=29 November 2008 |website=Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc }} A tank generally consists of a shallow inflow area and a relatively deeper outflow area where the bund is.{{Sfn|Chakrapani|Desai|George|Karthikeyan|1990|p=6}} The tank can further be zoned into a flooded area and a waterlogged zone.{{Sfn|Chakrapani|Desai|George|Karthikeyan|1990|p=60}} Monsoons recharge the tanks and the outflow can be regulated for irrigation of monsoon crops during the last six months of the year. Most tanks are dry a couple of months before the onset of the new monsoon. A second crop can be considered on the basis of water levels. Other seasonal changes affect the water level. Urban sewage inflow allows some lakes to retain their water spread for a longer period.{{Sfn|Chakrapani|Desai|George|Karthikeyan|1990|p=5}} Initially serving as a water source, these tanks over time also developed features of closed water lentic ecosystem habitats.{{Sfn|Chakrapani|Desai|George|Karthikeyan|1990|p=1, 4}} The catchments on the east and west of the ridge belong to the Ponnaiyar River and Arkavathi River respectively. Both these rivers flow into the Kaveri.{{Sfn|Chakrapani|Desai|George|Karthikeyan|1990|p=4}}

The tank-canal linkages or rajakaluves (large canals or stormwater canals) were redefined by the colonial administration once they became the location for the sewerage network.{{Cite journal |last=Ranganathan |first=Malini |date=2015 |title=Storm Drains as Assemblages: The Political Ecology of Flood Risk in Post-Colonial Bangalore: Stormwater Drains as Assemblages |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/anti.12149 |journal=Antipode |language=en |volume=47 |issue=5 |pages=1300–1320 |doi=10.1111/anti.12149 |issn=0066-4812 |eissn=1467-8330 |via=Wiley|url-access=subscription }} Rajakaluves now refer to both the inter-lake linkages and the sewerage, and are translated as stormwater drains. In the 21st century there are 842 km in the drain network.{{Cite web |date=2021 |title=Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India Performance audit of Management of storm water in Bengaluru Urban area, Government of Karnataka |url=https://cag.gov.in/uploads/download_audit_report/2021/10.%20Full%20Report-061430461ae16f4.22975494.pdf |access-date=3 October 2022 |website=Comptroller and Auditor General}} Urbanisation has impacted these.{{Cite web |last=Mathew |first=Melvin |date=20 September 2022 |title=Stormwater drain chasers |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/stormwater-drain-chasers/articleshow/94310507.cms |access-date=2022-09-24 |website=Bangalore Mirror |language=en}}{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2022-09-27 |title=A tale of vanishing lakes and drains that bring the city to its knees during rain |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/what-ails-our-lakes-a-tale-of-vanishing-lakes-and-drains-that-bring-the-city-to-its-knees-during-rain/article65937389.ece |access-date=2022-09-30 |issn=0971-751X}} Ensuring adequate water flow and no blockages is undertaken by the local administration.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2022-09-03 |title=Bengaluru civic body starts to clear encroachments on storm-water drains |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/bengaluru-civic-body-starts-to-clear-encroachments-on-stormwater-drains/article65845476.ece |access-date=2022-09-24 |issn=0971-751X}} Encroachment of storm drains and catchment areas can cause both drying up and flooding of lakes.{{Cite web |last1=NS |first1=Subhash Chandra |last2=Moudgal |first2=Sandeep |date=2009-09-15 |title=Vanishing lakes: Time to act now. Storm water drain encroachments: A major lake-killer |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/25285/vanishing-lakes-time-act-now.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} These drains often carry sewage in it, which results in the lakes getting polluted.{{Cite book |last1=Gowda |first1=K. |url=http://www.orion.net.gr/act/2006/naxos_vol1.pdf |title=Proceedings of the 2006 Naxos International Conference on Sustainable Management and Development of Mountainous and Island Areas |last2=Sridhara |first2=M.V. |year=2006 |isbn=960-89345-0-8 |editor-last=Manolas |editor-first=Evangelos I. |pages=122–130 |chapter=Conservation of Tanks/Lakes in the Bangalore Metropolitan Area|publisher=Democritus University of Thrace }}

Bangalore has a mean annual rainfall of {{convert|859.6|mm|ft|abbr=on|1}} with June to September seeing the majority of rainfall.{{Sfn|Subramanian|1985|p=76}} 2022 was the wettest year with over 1700mm of rainfall.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-18 |title=Bengaluru city sets new record for highest annual rainfall |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/bengaluru-city-record-highest-annual-rainfall-8215141/ |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=The Indian Express}}{{Cite web |date=20 October 2022 |title=Bengaluru creates rain record, experts warn of more havoc in days to come |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2022/oct/20/bengaluru-creates-rain-record-experts-warn-of-more-havoc-in-days-to-come-2510043.html |access-date=2022-12-14 |website=The New Indian Express}} The city sees around 60 rainy days a year.{{Cite journal |last1=Sudhira |first1=H.S. |last2=Ramachandra |first2=T.V. |last3=Subrahmanya |first3=M.H. Bala |date=2007 |title=Bangalore |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0264275107000637 |journal=Cities |language=en |volume=24 |issue=5 |pages=379–390 |doi=10.1016/j.cities.2007.04.003|url-access=subscription }} The minimum rainfall is 587.8 mm/year.{{Sfn|Subramanian|1985|p=76}} An estimate of the rain water potential is 45000 million litres.{{Sfn|Subramanian|1985|p=76}} The annual mean temperature is {{convert|24|C|F|abbr=on|1}} with extremes ranging from {{convert|37|C|F|abbr=on|1}} to {{convert|15|C|F|abbr=on|1}}. The highest and lowest temperature ever recorded in Bangalore has been 38.9 °C and 7.8 °C. in 1931 and 1884 respectively.{{Sfn|Mani|1985|p=3}}

File:A satellite image of Bangalore, India (2011).jpg

File:A satellite image of Bangalore, India (2018).jpg

There are various boundaries and methods that have been considered when counting lakes or tanks.{{Sfn|Thippaiah|2009|p=4-5}} This includes the different jurisdictions of concerned government bodies such as BBMP, BDA, BMRDA; the different limits of Bangalore Metropolitan Area, Greater Bangalore, Bangalore Rural district, Bangalore Urban district; and counts mentioned in reports such as the N Lakshman Rao report of 1986.{{Sfn|Thippaiah|2009|p=4-7}} Over time, the expansion of the limits of the city has resulted in a transfer of lakes in the rural district to the urban district.{{Sfn|Thippaiah|2009|p=6}}

Bangalore has grown in area from {{Convert|69|km2|acre|abbr=on}} in 1949 to over {{Convert|700|km2|acre|abbr=on}} by 2007.{{Cite web |last=Chaturvedi |first=Atul |date=16 June 2015 |title=BBMP jurisdiction 'shrinks' from 800 to 712 sq km |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/civic/bbmp-jurisdiction-gis-system/articleshow/47681858.cms |access-date=2022-10-04 |website=Bangalore Mirror |language=en}} The area covered by water bodies in Greater Bangalore and Bangalore Urban has seen a sharp decline since the 1960s and 1970s.{{Cite news |last=Chandra NS |first=Subhash |date=April 14, 2008 |title=Burgeoning Bangalore City saps its lakes dry |work=Deccan Herald |url=http://deccanherald.com/Content/Apr142008/city2008041462589.asp |access-date=8 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080421102929/http://deccanherald.com/Content/Apr142008/city2008041462589.asp |archive-date=21 April 2008}}{{Cite journal |last1=Brinkmann |first1=Katja |last2=Hoffmann |first2=Ellen |last3=Buerkert |first3=Andreas |date=2020-02-17 |title=Spatial and Temporal Dynamics of Urban Wetlands in an Indian Megacity over the Past 50 Years |journal=Remote Sensing |language=en |volume=12 |issue=4 |pages=662 |doi=10.3390/rs12040662 |bibcode=2020RemS...12..662B |issn=2072-4292|doi-access=free }}{{Cite book |last1=Chatterjee |first1=Biplob |url=https://www.orfonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Monograph_Urban_Water.pdf |title=Creating Urban Water Resilience in India: A Water Balance Study of Chennai, Bengaluru, Coimbatore, and Delhi |last2=Roy |first2=Aparna |publisher=Observer Research Foundation |year=2021 |isbn=978-93-90494-44-6 |pages=62}} Greater Bangalore has seen a reduction in water cover from 20.8 km² in 1965 to 12.5 km² in 2018. A study published in 2008 found that in the heart of the city only 17 good lakes exist as against 51 healthy lakes in 1985. A 2020 report listed 211 lakes within BBMP boundary limits.{{Cite news |date=2020-03-13 |title=Panel lambasts BBMP, BDA for inability to save lakes |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/panel-lambasts-bbmp-bda-for-inability-to-save-lakes/article31063739.ece |access-date=2022-09-28 |issn=0971-751X}} There are six cascading lake series- Varthur, Puttenahalli, Hulimavu, Byramangala, Yellamallappa Chetty and Madavara.{{Cite journal |last1=Ramachandra |first1=T. V. |last2=Mujumdar |first2=Pradeep P. |date=2009 |title=Urban Floods: Case Study of Bangalore |url=http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/water/paper/urbanfloods_bangalore/profile.htm |journal=Journal of the National Institute of Disaster Management |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=1–98}}

In 2015, a survey of all lakes in Bangalore Urban totaling 834 was completed.{{Cite web |last=Manjusainath |first=G |date=2015-09-23 |title=Now, see the lake loot tale in black and white |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/502384/now-see-lake-loot-tale.html |access-date=28 November 2022 |website=Deccan Herald |language=}} BMRDA in 2001 identified 2789 lakes (2-50 hectares in size) within its limits.{{Cite web |last=Bharadwaja |first=Dr Ajaya S. |date=2016-01-11 |title=Bengaluru lost its water bodies, and here's what is remaining |url=https://bengaluru.citizenmatters.in/bangalore-water-bodies-ndwi-images-research-7994 |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Citizen Matters, Bengaluru |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=G |first=Sankar C. |date=2012-06-13 |title=With no power to protect lakes, LDA limps |url=https://bengaluru.citizenmatters.in/4252-lda-has-no-power-to-curb-violations-4252 |access-date=2022-09-18 |website=Citizen Matters, Bengaluru |language=en-GB}} In 2013, the jurisdiction of the minor irrigation department, BMRDA and BDA was 3578, 2789 and 596 tanks/lakes respectively.{{Cite web |date=2014-07-26 |title='Encroached lake land worth Rs 24K cr' |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/421896/encroached-lake-land-worth-rs.html |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} The Koliwad committee (2014-2016) listed 1545 lakes.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2016-01-08 |title=Karnataka panel confirms 11,000 acres lake land encroached in Bengaluru |work=Business Standard India |url=https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/karnataka-panel-confirms-11-000-acres-lake-land-encroached-in-bengaluru-116010800849_1.html |access-date=2022-09-22}} A 2018 study by an autonomous institute under the Karnataka government counted 1521 water bodies in the Bangalore Metropolitan Area, out of which 837 were disused.

The largest lake in the city Bellandur Lake is "severely polluted".{{Cite journal |last1=Pickard |first1=Amy |last2=White |first2=Stella |last3=Bhattacharyya |first3=Sumita |last4=Carvalho |first4=Laurence |last5=Dobel |first5=Anne |last6=Drewer |first6=Julia |last7=Jamwal |first7=Priyanka |last8=Helfter |first8=Carole |date=December 2021 |title=Greenhouse gas budgets of severely polluted urban lakes in India |journal=Science of the Total Environment |language=en |volume=798 |pages=149019 |doi=10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149019|pmid=34325140 |bibcode=2021ScTEn.79849019P |doi-access=free }} The lake receives 520 million litres per day of sewage and other waste that amounts to about 40% of the city's total. Out of this roughly half is treated and diverted for irrigation. Otherwise the only inflow is rainwater. When aquatic systems around the world are taken into consideration, Bellandur Lake has methane emissions that are among the highest in the world. The lake has been in the news for its pollution, froth, and fire.{{Cite conference |last1=Sastry |first1=Aishwarya |last2=Patel |first2=Niqat |last3=Arora |first3=Shubhda |date=3-5 December 2017 |editor-last=Ekstrand |editor-first=Eva Åsén |editor2-last=Findahl |editor2-first=Olle |title=The City of Burning Lakes: Media representation of an environmental disaster in Bangalore City |conference=Consuming the Environment 2017. Multidisciplinary approaches to urbanization and vulnerability |location=Sweden |publisher=University of Gävle |pages=37–53 |isbn=978-91-88145-23-9}} Post-2015 deliberations with regard to what the end-goal of a rejuvenation of Bellandur lake would entail were held.{{Cite journal |last1=Lele |first1=Sharachchandra |last2=Sengupta |first2=Mrinalini Bakshi |date=2018 |title=From lakes as urban commons to integrated lake-water governance: The case of Bengaluru's urban water bodies |url=https://www.atree.org/sites/default/files/Lele%20and%20Bakshi%20Governing%20Lakes%20SAWAS%202018.pdf |journal=South Asian Water Studies |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=5–26 |via=atree.org}} The cause of the water quality situation in the lake was discussed. No simple solutions were found. Heavy metal contamination in Bellandur Lake impacts concentration of heavy metals in the soil and crop in areas irrigated using untreated lake water.{{Cite journal |last1=Lokeshwari |first1=H. |last2=Chandrappa |first2=G. T. |date=2006 |title=Impact of heavy metal contamination of Bellandur Lake on soil and cultivated vegetation |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24094365 |journal=Current Science |volume=91 |issue=5 |pages=622–627 |issn=0011-3891 |jstor=24094365}} Despite the numerous shortcomings presented by Bellandur and downstream Varthur lakes, these aren't representative of the many more shortcomings of water management in the rest of Bangalore.{{Cite web |last=Driver |first=Berjis |date=16 October 2020 |title=Restoring groundwater in urban India: Learning from Bengaluru |url=https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/restoring-groundwater-urban-india-learning-bengaluru/ |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=ORF |language=en-US}} Byramangala Lake has also seen froth.{{Cite web |last=Kidwai |first=Nehal |editor-last=Achom |editor-first=Debanish |title=Residents Fume As Toxic Froth Builds Up In Lake Near Bengaluru |url=https://www.ndtv.com/karnataka-news/residents-fume-as-toxic-froth-builds-up-in-byramangala-lake-near-bengaluru-1908081 |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=NDTV.com}}{{Cite web |last=D'Souza |first=Pearl Maria |date=12 May 2019 |title=It's froth all over again in Bengaluru's Byramangala lake |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2019/may/12/its-froth-all-over--again-in-byramangala-lake-1975771.html |access-date=2022-11-21 |website=The New Indian Express}} A number of factors impact measurements and interpretation of water quality and pollution.{{Cite journal |last1=Ravikumar |first1=P. |last2=Aneesul Mehmood |first2=Mohammad |last3=Somashekar |first3=R. K. |date=January 2013 |title=Water quality index to determine the surface water quality of Sankey tank and Mallathahalli lake, Bangalore urban district, Karnataka, India |journal=Applied Water Science |language=en |volume=3 |issue=1 |pages=247–261 |doi=10.1007/s13201-013-0077-2 |bibcode=2013ApWS....3..247R |s2cid=178533882 |issn=2190-5487|doi-access=free }}{{Cite journal |last1=Birawat |first1=Khushbu K. |last2=T |first2=Hymavathi |last3=C.Nachiyar |first3=Mathuvanthi |last4=N.A |first4=Mayaja |last5=C.V |first5=Srinivasa |date=2021 |title=Impact of urbanisation on lakes—a study of Bengaluru lakes through water quality index (WQI) and overall index of pollution (OIP) |url=https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10661-021-09131-w |journal=Environmental Monitoring and Assessment |language=en |volume=193 |issue=7 |pages=408 |doi=10.1007/s10661-021-09131-w |pmid=34114104 |bibcode=2021EMnAs.193..408B |s2cid=235398593 |issn=0167-6369|url-access=subscription }}{{Explain|reason=Improve summarisation of research|date=November 2022}}

India's National Water Quality Monitoring Programme is implemented in Bangalore by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board through a network of over 100 monitoring stations located at lakes and tanks.{{Cite web |title=National Water Quality Monitoring Programme (GEMS & MINARS) |url=https://kspcb.karnataka.gov.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/NWMP.pdf |access-date=21 November 2022 |website=Karnataka State Pollution Control Board}} Monthly monitoring data is classified under pre-defined water quality criteria A-E. In 2022, according to this data water in all the lakes in Bangalore were undrinkable with no lake falling under categories A-C.{{Cite web |last=Thakur |first=Aksheev |date=2022-09-01 |title=Water in all Bengaluru lakes unfit for drinking, says state pollution control board study |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/water-in-all-bengaluru-lakes-unfit-for-drinking-state-pollution-control-board-8125017/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}

Water hyacinth, and other macrophytes and phytoplankton, are bioindicators of certain characteristics of water quality. Using satellite imagery between 1988 and 2019 (see #Ecology) significant areas of these have been observed covering various lakes in Bangalore, varying in coverage of the wetland according to lake, season and other factors.{{Cite journal |last1=Verma |first1=Rinku |last2=Singh |first2=S. P. |last3=Raj |first3=K. Ganesha |date=2003 |title=Assessment of changes in water-hyacinth coverage of water bodies in northern part of Bangalore city using temporal remote sensing data |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24107584 |journal=Current Science |volume=84 |issue=6 |pages=795–804 |jstor=24107584 |issn=0011-3891}} There have been occurrences of mass fish mortality.{{Cite journal |last1=Benjamin |first1=Ranjeev |last2=Chakrapani |first2=B. K. |last3=Devashish |first3=Kar |last4=Nagarathna |first4=A. V. |last5=Ramachandra |first5=T. V. |date=December 1996 |title=Fish Mortality in Bangalore Lakes, India |url=https://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/water/paper/fishmon.htm |journal=Electronic Green Journal |volume=1 |issue=6 |doi=10.5070/G31610252 |via=Centre for Ecological Sciences, IISc |s2cid=53320131|doi-access=free }}{{Cite web |last=Kozhisseri |first=Deepa |date=31 July 2005 |title=Fishy deaths |url=https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/fishy-deaths-9923 |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Down to Earth}}{{Cite journal |last=Maheshwari |first=Ramesh |date=2005 |title=Fish death in lakes |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24110328 |journal=Current Science |volume=88 |issue=11 |pages=1719–1721 |issn=0011-3891 |jstor=24110328 }}{{Cite web |last=Vyas |first=Ananya |date=2022-07-19 |title=[Explainer] What's causing mass fish death in India's ponds and lakes? |url=https://india.mongabay.com/2022/07/explainer-whats-causing-mass-fish-deaths-in-indias-ponds-and-lakes/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Mongabay-India}} Immersion of Ganesha idols that are made with specific types of material has impacted water quality.{{Cite journal |last1=Gorain |first1=Bisweswar |last2=Parama |first2=VR Ramakrishna |last3=Paul |first3=Srijita |date=2018 |title=Impact of Idol Immersion Activities on the Water Quality of Hebbal and Bellandur Lakes of Bengaluru in Karnataka |journal=Journal of Soil Salinity and Water Quality |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=112–117}}{{Cite journal |last1=Gorain |first1=Bisweswar |last2=Paul |first2=Srijita |date=2019 |title=Effect of idol immersion activities on the water quality of urban lakes in Bengaluru, Karnataka |url=http://cwejournal.org/vol14no1/effect-of-idol-immersion-activities-on-the-water-quality-of-urban-lakes-in-bengaluru--karnataka/ |journal=Current World Environment |volume=14 |issue=1 |pages=143–148 |doi=10.12944/CWE.14.1.13|s2cid=164313421 |doi-access=free }} Some types of painted idol immersion has had significant effects on aquatic life.{{Cite journal |last=Sharma |first=Dinesh C |date=2004 |title=Rituals Cause Lead Exposure and Fish Kill |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/3868375 |journal=Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment |volume=2 |issue=10 |pages=510 |issn=1540-9295 |jstor=3868375|bibcode=2004FrEE....2..510S }} Over 150,000 idols were submerged in 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-09-02 |title=Over 1.50 lakh Ganesha idols immersed in BBMP limits |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/city/over-150-lakh-ganesha-idols-immersed-in-bbmp-limits-1141392.html |access-date=2022-11-22 |website=Deccan Herald |language=en}} Measures to minimize pollution during the festival include use of earthen idols and smaller disconnected artificial tanks.

{{OSM Location map

| coord = {{coord|12.9761|77.5868}}

| float = right

| zoom = 10

| width = 220

| height = 220

| caption = Sewage treatment plants near lakes. Constructed wetlands.

| map-data = Q1355

| map-data-light = Q806463, Q806464

| fullscreen-option = 1

| mark-coord1 = {{coord|13.08297|77.51315}}

| mark1 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size1 = 7

| label1 =

| label-size1 = 9

| label-color1 = black

| label-pos1 = left

| mark-description1 = Chikkabanavara 5MLD

| shape-color1 = dark blue

| mark-coord2 = {{coord|13.0431|77.49282}}

| mark2 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size2 = 7

| label2 =

| label-size2 = 9

| label-color2 = black

| label-pos2 = left

| mark-description2 = Nagasandra 20MLD

| shape-color2 = dark blue

| mark-coord3 = {{coord|12.96807|77.49505}}

| mark3 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size3 = 7

| label3 =

| label-size3 = 9

| label-color3 = black

| label-pos3 = left

| mark-description3 = Mallathahalli 5MLD

| shape-color3 = dark blue

| mark-coord4 = {{coord|12.91490|77.48974}}

| mark4 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size4 = 7

| label4 =

| label-size4 = 9

| label-color4 = black

| label-pos4 = bottom

| mark-description4 = Vrishabhavathi 180MLD

| shape-color4 = dark blue

| mark-coord5 = {{coord|12.91663|77.49056}}

| mark5 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size5 = 7

| label5 =

| label-size5 = 9

| label-color5 = black

| label-pos5 = right

| mark-description5 = Kengeri 60MLD

| shape-color5 = dark blue

| mark-coord6 = {{coord|12.94057|77.65879}}

| mark6 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size6 = 7

| label6 =

| label-size6 = 9

| label-color6 = black

| label-pos6 = left

| mark-description6 = K&C Valley 218MLD

| shape-color6 = dark blue

| mark-coord7 = {{coord|12.95264|77.55775}}

| mark7 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size7 = 7

| label7 =

| label-size7 = 9

| label-color7 = black

| label-pos7 = left

| mark-description7 = Kempabudhi 1MLD

| shape-color7 = dark blue

| mark-coord8 = {{coord|12.91944|77.49470}}

| mark8 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size8 = 7

| label8 =

| label-size8 = 9

| label-color8 = black

| label-pos8 = top

| mark-description8 = Mailasandra 75MLD

| shape-color8 = dark blue

| mark-coord9 = {{coord|12.97078|77.59123}}

| mark9 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size9 = 7

| label9 =

| label-size9 = 9

| label-color9 = black

| label-pos9 = right

| mark-description9 = Cubbon Park 4MLD

| shape-color9 = dark blue

| mark-coord10 = {{coord|12.98682|77.62233}}

| mark10 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size10 = 7

| label10 =

| label-size10 = 9

| label-color10 = black

| label-pos10 = right

| mark-description10 = Halasuru 2MLD

| shape-color10 = dark blue

| mark-coord11 = {{coord|13.04259|77.60215}}

| mark11 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size11 = 7

| label11 =

| label-size11 = 9

| label-color11 = black

| label-pos11 = left

| mark-description11 = Hebbal 60MLD

| shape-color11 = dark blue

| mark-coord12 = {{coord|13.04450|77.64653}}

| mark12 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size12 = 7

| label12 =

| label-size12 = 9

| label-color12 = black

| label-pos12 = top

| mark-description12 = Rajacanal 40MLD

| shape-color12 = dark blue

| mark-coord13 = {{coord|13.04461|77.66232}}

| mark13 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size13 = 7

| label13 =

| label-size13 = 9

| label-color13 = black

| label-pos13 = right

| mark-description13 = Horamavu-Agara 20MLD

| shape-color13 = dark blue

| mark-coord14 = {{coord|13.01652|77.69379}}

| mark14 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size14 = 7

| label14 =

| label-size14 = 9

| label-color14 = black

| label-pos14 = left

| mark-description14 = KR Puram 20MLD

| shape-color14 = dark blue

| mark-coord15 = {{coord|13.02164|77.71977}}

| mark15 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size15 = 7

| label15 =

| label-size15 = 9

| label-color15 = black

| label-pos15 = top

| mark-description15 = Yelemallappa Chetti 15MLD

| shape-color15 = dark blue

| mark-coord17 = {{coord|12.94721|77.69723}}

| mark17 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size17 = 7

| label17 =

| label-size17 = 9

| label-color17 = black

| label-pos17 = right

| mark-description17 = Kadabeesanahalli 50MLD

| shape-color17 = dark blue

| mark-coord18 = {{coord|12.94042|77.71646}}

| mark18 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size18 = 7

| label18 =

| label-size18 = 9

| label-color18 = black

| label-pos18 = bottom

| mark-description18 = Bellandur 90MLD

| shape-color18 = dark blue

| mark-coord19 = {{coord|12.94699|77.62364}}

| mark19 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size19 = 7

| label19 =

| label-size19 = 9

| label-color19 = black

| label-pos19 = right

| mark-description19 = Sewage pumping station

| shape-color19 = dark blue

| mark-coord20 = {{coord|12.94417|77.58366}}

| mark20 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size20 = 7

| label20 =

| label-size20 = 9

| label-color20 = black

| label-pos20 = left

| mark-description20 = Lalbagh 1.5MLD

| shape-color20 = dark blue

| mark-coord21 = {{coord|12.94716|77.62356}}

| mark21 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size21 = 7

| label21 =

| label-size21 = 9

| label-color21 = black

| label-pos21 = right

| mark-description21 = Koramangala 210MLD

| shape-color21 = dark blue

| mark-coord22 = {{coord|12.89591|77.57509}}

| mark22 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size22 = 7

| label22 =

| label-size22 = 9

| label-color22 = black

| label-pos22 = bottom

| mark-description22 = Sarakki 5MLD

| shape-color22 = dark blue

| mark-coord23 = {{coord|12.86564|77.60404}}

| mark23 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size23 = 7

| label23 =

| label-size23 = 9

| label-color23 = black

| label-pos23 = left

| mark-description23 = Hulimavu 10MLD

| shape-color23 = dark blue

| mark-coord24 = {{coord|12.88399|77.63758}}

| mark24 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size24 = 7

| label24 =

| label-size24 = 9

| label-color24 = black

| label-pos24 = right

| mark-description24 = Chickbegur 5MLD

| shape-color24 = dark blue

| mark-coord25 = {{coord|12.91818|77.63884}}

| mark25 = Red pog.svg

| mark-size25 = 9

| label25 =

| label-size25 = 9

| label-color25 =

| label-pos25 = left

| mark-description25 = Agara constructed wetland

| shape-color25 = dark red

| mark-coord26 = {{coord|13.09287|77.60878}}

| mark26 = Red pog.svg

| mark-size26 = 9

| label26 =

| label-size26 = 9

| label-color26 =

| label-pos26 = right

| mark-description26 = Jakkur constructed wetland

| shape-color26 = dark red

| mark-coord27 = {{coord|13.09527|77.60518}}

| mark27 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size27 = 7

| label27 =

| label-size27 = 9

| label-color27 = black

| label-pos27 = top

| mark-description27 = Jakkur 15MLD

| shape-color27 = dark blue

| mark-coord28 = {{coord|12.91718|77.64144}}

| mark28 = Green 008000 pog.svg

| mark-size28 = 7

| label28 =

| label-size28 = 9

| label-color28 = black

| label-pos28 = top

| mark-description28 = Agaram 35MLD

| shape-color28 = dark blue

}}

Integrated wetlands, constructed wetlands, and floating wetlands have been utilized to improve water quality.{{Cite book |last1=Ramachandra |first1=T. V. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-MN5CgAAQBAJ |title=The Carbon Footprint Handbook |last2=Mahapatra |first2=Durga Madhab |date=2016 |publisher=CRC Press. Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-4822-6223-0 |editor-last=Muthu |editor-first=Subramanian Senthilkannan |pages=33, 35 |language= |chapter=The Science of Carbon Footprint Assessment}}{{Cite web |title=Urban Wetlands. Reviving Bangalore's wetlands |url=http://bengaluru.urbanwaters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2019/02/WETLANDSPrimer-v4-compressed.pdf |access-date=25 December 2022 |website=Biome Environmental}} The integrated wetland of Jakkur Lake consists of partially treating sewage inflow before entry into a constructed wetland adjacent to the main lake body. A 10 MLD treatment plant utilizes UASB technology and extended aeration. This is followed by a constructed wetland spread over about 11 acres consisting of shallow followed by deeper settling basins with a variety of aquatic plants. The constructed wetland at Agara Lake is spread over 9 acres.{{Citation |title=Waterbody Rejuvenation – A Compendium of Case Studies |date=December 2019 |url=https://cddindia.org/wp-content/uploads/WBR-compendium-by-CDD.pdf |pages=70 |publisher=Consortium for DEWATS Dissemination (CDD) Society, Bengaluru}} Floating wetlands have been used at multiple lakes with varying success, notably Hebbagodi Lake.{{Cite web |last=Thakur |first=Aksheev |date=2017-10-04 |title=Bengaluru: The floating islands that clean Agara, Madiwala lakes |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/041017/bengaluru-the-floating-islands-that-clean-agara-madiwala-lakes.html |access-date=2022-12-25 |website=Deccan Chronicle |language=en}} Some lakes have wastewater treatment plants with direct inflow into the main lake area.

Urban flooding has been considered as a disaster by National Disaster Management Authority following major flooding events in cities in India in the 2000s including Bangalore.{{Cite web |last=Jha |first=Ramanath |date=15 October 2022 |title=The Bengaluru floods: The rising challenge of urban floods in India |url=https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/the-bengaluru-floods/ |access-date=2022-12-10 |website=ORF |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |url=https://nidm.gov.in/pdf/guidelines/new/management_urban_flooding.pdf |title=National Disaster Management Guidelines : Management of Urban Flooding |publisher=National Disaster Management Authority |date=September 2010 |isbn=978-93-80440-09-5 |location=New Delhi |pages=114}} While there are similarities between cities in the causes of the floods, Bangalore has some unique exacerbating features with regard to its lake ecosystem. {{Clear}}

The Birdwatchers' Field Club of Bangalore released their first list of birds in Bangalore in the 1970s. The revised list of 1994 also contains recorded sightings such as that of little grebe at Ulsoor tank in 1930 and data from the waterfowl census conducted since 1987.{{Cite book |last1=Krishna |first1=M. B. |url=https://archive.org/details/BangaloreBirdsAnnotated |title=Annotated Checklist of The Birds of Bangalore |last2=Subramanya |first2=S. |last3=Prasad |first3=J. N. |publisher=Birdwatchers' Field Club of Bangalore |year=1994 |editor-last=George |editor-first=Joseph |pages=1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 |via=Internet Archive}} The 1994 list records over 220 regularly sighted birds. 109 birds are wetland birds and additional 30 species are favoured by the presence of water. A study conducted by the same group in 1989 observed economic activities in and around the tanks which affected their ecology. Out of 97 tanks that were observed in a radius of 30 km, unregulated mudlifting and brickmaking were practiced in a large number of the lakes.{{Sfn|Chakrapani|Desai|George|Karthikeyan|1990|p=46-48}} Micro-habitats for aquatic birds in Bangalore can be grouped into roughly five categories: open water birds, waders and shoreline birds, meadow and grassland birds, birds of reedbeds and other vegetation, birds of open airspace above wetlands.{{Citation |last1=Krishna |first1=M. B. |title=Water Birds And Wetlands Of Bangalore |date=1996 |url=https://archive.org/details/waterbirdsandwetlandsofbangalore1996 |pages=59–79 |chapter=Annual Waterbird Census in and around Bangalore and Maddur |publisher=Birdwatchers' Field Club of Bangalore and Bangalore Urban Division, Karnataka State Forest Department |last2=Chakrapani |first2=B. K. |last3=Srinivasa |first3=T. S.}} Some birds frequent multiple micro-habitats. The ninth and tenth edition of the census of wetland and water birds in 1995 and 1996 conducted by the Birdwatchers' Field Club in coordination with the state forest department found 29 lakes which had twenty or more species such as Hebbal, Hosakote and Kalkere. 25 lakes were found with over 500 birds. The pond heron was found to be the most prevalent species among all the lakes, however no one species was present in all the lakes. Common waders include egret, sandpiper and brahminy kite. Kingfisher was the most common open water bird. The most common duck was Garganey. Pintail and Coot were common reed and other vegetation birds.

File:Hosakote lake.jpg

A study using eBird data from 2014 to 2019 from 44 lakes in the city had a sample size that included a total of 263 species.{{Cite journal |last1=Jambhekar |first1=Ravi |last2=Suryawanshi |first2=Kulbhushansingh |last3=Nagendra |first3=Harini |date=2021-01-22 |title=Relationship between lake area and distance from the city centre on lake-dependent resident and migratory birds in urban Bangalore, a tropical mega-city in Southern India |journal=Journal of Urban Ecology |language=en |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=juab028 |doi=10.1093/jue/juab028 |issn=2058-5543|doi-access=free }} In this study, the area of the lake and its position in the city impacted bird richness. Most resident species saw an increase while most migratory species decreased. An earlier study of 15 lakes in the city identified birds such as kingfishers, purple moorhen, little grebes, darter, purple heron, grey herons and pond herons.{{Cite journal |last1=Rajashekara |first1=S. |last2=Venkatesha |first2=M. G. |date=2011 |title=Community composition of aquatic birds in lakes of Bangalore, India |url=https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21888236/ |journal=Journal of Environmental Biology |volume=32 |issue=1 |pages=77–83 |issn=0254-8704 |pmid=21888236}} A 2005-2007 study observed 112 bird species at seven lakes; Hebbal Lake had 74 species while Yediur Lake had 15 species.{{Cite journal |last1=Antoney |first1=P.U. |last2=Swetha |first2=K.S. |last3=Sreepad |first3=S. |date=January–June 2007 |title=Avian Diversity in the Wetland of Bangalore |url=https://journals.christuniversity.in/index.php/mapana/article/view/184 |journal=Mapana Journal of Sciences |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=57–68 |doi=10.12723/mjs.10.5 |issn=0975-3311|doi-access=free }} Another localised study of aquatic birds found that two of the most abundant species are Anas querquedula, a species of duck, and Bubulcus ibis, a species of heron.{{Cite journal |last1=Rajashekara |first1=S. |last2=Venkatesha |first2=M. G. |date=2010 |title=The diversity and abundance of waterbirds in lakes of Bangalore city, Karnataka, India |journal=Biosystematica |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=68–69 |issn=0973-9955 |eissn=0973-7871}} Bird poaching and hunting was rampant in 1989.{{Sfn|Chakrapani|Desai|George|Karthikeyan|1990|p=48-49}} It now occurs to a much lesser extent.{{Cite web |last=Pereira |first=Joiston |date=19 June 2016 |title=Bird Poaching in Bangalore's Wetlands |url=https://www.conservationindia.org/gallery/bird-poaching-in-bangalores-wetlands |access-date=28 November 2022 |website=conservationindia.org}}

File:Ulsoor lake - Flickr - Swami Stream.jpg and gillnet|alt=A lake with an island. A fisherman in a coracle visible.]]

20 types of fish have been observed in the lakes.{{sfnp|Centre for Lake Conservation (EMPRI), Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area|2018|p=138}} Cyprinidae family is dominant.{{sfnp|Centre for Lake Conservation (EMPRI), Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area|2018|p=138}} Fish diversity and bird biodiversity are impacted by fishing practices.{{Cite web |last=Girisha |date=2021-01-30 |title=Indigenous fishes have been dwindling in Bengaluru's rivers and lakes |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/indigenous-fishes-have-been-dwindling-bengalurus-rivers-and-lakes-142448 |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=The News Minute}}{{Cite web |last=Ramprasad |first=V |date=2022-08-27 |title=Bengaluru: Refreshed lakes, dying fish |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/specials/point-blank/bengaluru-refreshed-lakes-dying-fish-1139649.html |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Deccan Herald}}{{Cite web |last=Mathew |first=Melvin |date=June 5, 2022 |title=Man vs bird |url=https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/man-vs-bird/articleshow/92010488.cms |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Bangalore Mirror |language=en}} Appropriate water bodies are leased out for fishing purposes.{{Cite web |last=G |first=Sreekala |date=May 2013 |others=Thesis for Doctor of Philosophy in Zoology |title=Biochemical studies on tissues of major carps from lakes of Bangalore |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10603/70248 |publisher=Bangalore University |pages=37, 38, 49, 97 |hdl=10603/70248 |via=Shodhganga}} Fishes bred for food include carps such as catla, labeo, mrigal, and other types such as tilapia, catfish. Labeo rohita or rohu is the most commonly bred fish. In 2021 Jakkur Lake supported a number of fishing families.{{Cite web |last=Pinglay-Plumber |first=Prachi |date=2021-04-05 |title=The story of Jakkur lake sets an example for inclusive rejuvenation projects |url=https://india.mongabay.com/2021/04/the-story-of-jakkur-lake-sets-an-example-for-inclusive-rejuvenation-projects/ |access-date=2022-11-18 |website=Mongabay-India |language=en-US}} The lake provides up to 200 kg of fish per day.{{Cite web |date=2017 |title=Bangalore and its Lakes |url=http://bengaluru.urbanwaters.in/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/07/Bangalore-Lakes-Biome-Dec-2016.pdf |website=bengaluru.urbanwaters.in |publisher=Biome Environmental}} The catch can go up to 500 kg. There is a fish farm and research center beside Hebbal Lake.

Imagery from the Indian Remote Sensing Programme for the years 1988-2001 were used to assess growth of water hyacinth in six lakes in Bangalore. Among the largest areas in this study under water hyacinth was observed in Hebbal Lake at {{Convert|20|ha|acre|abbr=in}} out of a total water spread of {{Convert|30|ha|acre|abbr=in}}. Nagavara Lake had the highest ratio of water hyacinth to water spread; in March 1989 the lake was completely covered. In the mid-1980s Neochetina eichhorniae, used in the biocontrol of water hyacinth, was released on an experimental basis in a specific area of Bellandur Lake.{{Cite journal |last=Jayanth |first=K. P. |date=1987 |title=Suprression of Water Hyacinth by the exotic insect Neochetina eichhorniae in Bangalore, India |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24091336 |journal=Current Science |volume=56 |issue=10 |pages=494–495 |jstor=24091336 |issn=0011-3891}} An impact on water hyacinth was observed. The insect had also been recorded in the coming months in downstream Varthur Lake signifying a capability to migrate. Within a few months infestation of all water hyacinth in Varthur Lake was observed.

File:Bellandur Lake.jpg

Analysis of freely available Google Earth imagery between 2002 and 2019 for macrophytes and phytoplankton cover in Bellandur and Varthur lakes showed that macrophyte cover never fell below 29% of the total wetland cover with a perennial average of nearly 60%. Algae was about half that of the macrophyte cover. Water hyacinth has favoured types of moorhen, heron, and egret, and has caused the loss of a type of wader. Aquatic weed harvesters are used on Bellandur lake.{{Cite web |date=2 May 2017 |title=Four harvesters to clear weeds in Bellandur Lake |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/bengaluru/2017/may/02/four-harvesters-to-clear-weeds-in-bellandur-lake-1599995.html |access-date=2022-12-03 |website=The New Indian Express}}

Common emergent aquatic plants include alligator weed, pink morning glory and cattail.{{sfnp|Centre for Lake Conservation (EMPRI), Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area|2018|p=131}} Common submerged aquatic plants include those from the genus Aponogeton, Potamogeton and the highly invasive Hydrilla, Elodea.{{sfnp|Centre for Lake Conservation (EMPRI), Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area|2018|p=133}} Free floating Lemna, Wolffia and Eichhornia are common. Rooted floating plants include weeds, lilies and lotus.{{sfnp|Centre for Lake Conservation (EMPRI), Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area|2018|p=133}} Around 22 types of aquatic weeds are found in the lakes including algae, duckweed, water hyacinth, musk grass, water thyme, pondweed.{{sfnp|Centre for Lake Conservation (EMPRI), Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area|2018|p=135}}

{{clear}}

The 1989 Birdwatchers' Field Club study recorded 113 forms of plankton; in terms of plankton diversity six out of the 72 lakes showed high diversity.{{Sfn|Chakrapani|Desai|George|Karthikeyan|1990|p=46-48}} In a doctoral study on algae from 2017 to 2019 one downstream and one upstream lake from each of the 6 lake series were targeted.{{Cite web |last=Veenashree |date=July 2021 |others=Thesis for DPhil in Environmental Science |title=Environmental assessment of harmful algal blooms and eutrophication in lakes of Bengaluru - A climate change perspective |url=https://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/409783/1/01_title.pdf |publisher=Bangalore University |pages=76, 220 |via=Shodhganga}} Algal diversity observed included 124 species belonging to 58 genera of the four classes Chlorophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Bacillariophyceae and Euglenophyceae. Dominant taxa includes the species Scenedesmus dimorphus and species from the genus Anabaena. In a targeted study of 7 lakes between 2010 and 2012 the dominant classes were the same.{{Cite web |last=Gayathri |first=S. |date=2014 |title=Studies on progressive eutrophication and restoration strategies of few Bangalore lakes |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10603/127460 |publisher=Bangalore University |pages=128, 202 |hdl=10603/127460 |via=Shodhganga}} Microcystis aeruginosa was the most dominant algal bloom. The main zooplankton were rotifera, cladocera, ostracoda and copepoda.

An inventory of lakes in Bangalore conducted between 2016 and 2018 identified 142 types of flora 191 types of fauna,{{Cite news |last=Rao |first=Mohit M. |date=2017-11-20 |title=City lakes support 333 types of flora and fauna |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/lake-eco-system-comprises-flora-and-fauna-in-addition-to-water/article20606702.ece |access-date=2022-11-18 |issn=0971-751X}} belonging to nine categories of the biota (flora: trees, herbs and shrubs, aquatic flora; fauna: insects, macro benthic fauna, fish, herpetofauna, avifauna, mammals) in and around the water bodies.{{sfnp|Centre for Lake Conservation (EMPRI), Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area|2018|p=iii}}

Various trees, herbs and shrubs are found in and around the lakes.{{sfnp|Centre for Lake Conservation (EMPRI), Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area|2018|p=129-130}} Aacia nilotica has been planted at various tanks.{{Sfn|Chakrapani|Desai|George|Karthikeyan|1990|p=29}} Floral diversity of wetlands include types of flowering and fruiting plants.{{Cite book |last1=N. |first1=Nandini |url=https://www.cseindia.org/static/mount/recommended_readings_mount/27-State-of-Environment-Report-Bangalore-2008-EMPRI-2009-09.pdf |title=State of Environment Report Bangalore 2008 |last2=Jumbe |first2=Aboud S. |others=EMPRI, DoFEE, GoK, GTZ |year=2009 |pages=50–51 |chapter=2. Wetlands |via=Centre for Science and Environment}}

A 2016 study identified 116 butterfly species.{{Cite conference |last=Shet R |first=Chaturved |date=28-30 December 2016 |title=Butterfly Diversity of Bangalore Urban District |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322716409 |conference=Lake 2016: Conference on Conservation and Sustainable Management of Ecologically Sensitive Regions in Western Ghats |via=ResearchGate.net}} Doddakallasandra lake and Madivala lake have seen efforts specific to butterfly biodiversity.{{Cite news |last=Tejaswi |first=Mini |date=2019-07-13 |title=Butterfly survey at Doddakallasandra lake unearths promising results |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/butterfly-survey-at-doddakallasandra-lake-unearths-promising-results/article28424733.ece |access-date=2022-11-15 |issn=0971-751X}}{{Cite news |last=H.M |first=Shruthi |date=2018-06-24 |title=Madivala lake transforms into biodiversity park |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/madivala-lake-transforms-into-biodiversity-park/article24248693.ece |access-date=2022-11-28 |issn=0971-751X}} Apharitis lilacinus has been spotted at Hesaraghatta Lake.{{Cite web |last1=Kunte |first1=Krushnamegh |last2=Ravikanthachari |first2=Nitin |date=2020 |title=Butterflies of Bengaluru |url=http://biodiversitylab.ncbs.res.in/media/ButterfliesOfBengaluruBook_Sample.pdf |publisher=Karnataka Forest Department (Research Wing), National Centre for Biological Sciences, and Indian Foundation for Butterflies, Bengaluru, India |pages=110–112}}

One of the, or the, most vital modern use of lakes is for the storage of freshwater and subsequent recharge of groundwater in Bangalore. This comes into question during efforts to enhance the biodiversity and aesthetics of the lakes through the creation of artificial islands and tree parks, and opposition to "soup bowl" structured restoration.{{Cite journal |last=Nagendra |first=Harini |author-link=Harini Nagendra |date=September 2010 |title=Maps, lakes and citizens |url=http://atree.org/sites/default/files/articles/2010_seminar_lakes.pdf |journal=Seminar |issue=613 |pages=22 |via=Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE)}}{{Cite web |last=Futehally |first=Zafar |author-link=Zafar Futehally |date=2010-02-15 |title=Soup bowls, good or bad? |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/52827/soup-bowls-good-bad.html |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=Deccan Herald}} Naturalist Zafar Futehally suggests a balance by restricting soup bowl structure to select lakes, and allowing the others to develop with more concern for aquatic birds and recreation. In 2023 The New York Times reported about conservationist Anand Malligavad who has restored 35 lakes in Bengaluru, with the help ancient Chola methods of water management, which don't need maintenance.{{Cite news |last=Yasir |first=Sameer |date=2023-09-22 |title=India's 'Lake Man' Relies on Ancient Methods to Ease a Water Crisis |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/22/world/asia/bengaluru-india-lake-reclamation.html |access-date=2023-09-28 |issn=0362-4331}}

{{clear}}

{{Dynamic list}}

{{GeoGroup|article=Lakes in Bangalore}}

File:Ulsoor Lake from a distance.JPG

File:Jakkur lake.JPG

File:Nagavara Lake.jpg

File:Kaikondrahalli Lake.jpg

{{maplink

|frame=yes

|frame-width=280

|frame-height=280

|zoom=10

|frame-coordinates={{Coord|12.9871863|77.587397}}

|text=Former reservoirs. Not exhaustive.

|type1= line |id1= Q1355 |stroke-width1= 1 |stroke-color1= #636363

|type2= line |id2= Q806463 |stroke-width2= 1 |stroke-color2= #800000

|type3= line |id3= Q806464 |stroke-width3= 1 |stroke-color3= #800000

|type4= line |id4= Q427679 |stroke-width4= 1 |stroke-color4= #800000

|type5= named |from5=#Former reservoirs |marker-color5=#a1a1a1 |marker-size5= small

}}

File:Panoramic view of Varanasi Lake.jpg

{{clear}}

;Notes

{{notelist}}

;Citations

{{reflist}}

;Works cited

• {{Cite book |last1=Chakrapani |first1=B. K. |url=https://archive.org/details/Wetlands1989 |title=Survey of Irrigation Tanks as Wetland Bird Habitats in the Bangalore area, India, January 1989 |last2=Desai |first2=Milind |last3=George |first3=Joseph |last4=Karthikeyan |first4=S. |last5=Krishna |first5=M. B. |last6=Kumar |first6=U. Harish |last7=Naveein |first7=O. C. |last8=Sridhar |first8=S. |last9=Srinivasa |first9=T. S. |publisher=Birdwatchers' Field Club of Bangalore |year=1990 |last10=N. |first10=Srinivasan |last11=S. |first11=Subramanya}}
• {{Cite book |last=Srinivas |first=Smriti |title=Landscapes of Urban Memory. The Sacred and the Civic in India's High-Tech City |publisher=University of Minnesota Press |year=2001 |isbn=0-8166-3616-8 |series=Globalization and Community |volume=9 }}
• {{Cite book |last=Shah |first=Esha |url=https://edepot.wur.nl/139417 |title=Social Designs: Tank Irrigation Technology and Agrarian Transformation in Karnataka, South India |publisher=Thesis published by Orient Longman as a part of Wageningen University Water Resources Series |year=2003 |isbn=90-5808-827-8 |via=Wageningen University}}
• {{Citation |last=Thippaiah |first=P |title=Vanishing Lakes: A Study of Bangalore City |date=2009 |url=http://www.isec.ac.in/Monographs_17.pdf |volume= |issue= |series=Social and Economic Change Monograph Series 17 |publisher=Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangalore |isbn=978-81-7791-116-9}}
• {{Cite book |last=Nagendra |first=Harini |url= |title=Nature in the City: Bengaluru in the Past, Present, and Future |date=2016 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-908968-0 |author-link=Harini Nagendra}}
• {{Citation |title=Final Report on Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area (BMA) |date=March 2018 |work= |volume=1 |others=Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA) |publisher=Centre for Lake Conservation (CLC), Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) (Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment, Government of Karnataka) |ref={{sfnref|Centre for Lake Conservation (EMPRI), Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area|2018}}}}. Accessed via [https://esgindia.org/new/esg-publications/other-reports/compiled-list-of-reports-on-lakes/ Environment Support Group]
• {{Citation |title=Volume-II: Lake Database and Atlas (Part-2: Bengaluru East Taluk) |date= |work= |volume= |publisher= |ref={{sfnref|Centre for Lake Conservation (EMPRI), Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area II.2|2018}}}}
• {{Citation |title=Volume-II: Lake Database and Atlas (Part-4: Bengaluru South Taluk) |date= |work= |volume= |publisher= |ref={{sfnref|Centre for Lake Conservation (EMPRI), Inventorisation of Water Bodies in Bengaluru Metropolitan Area II.4|2018}}}}
• {{Cite book |last=Mani |first=A. |url=http://www.kscst.iisc.ernet.in/essays_bangalore/essays_on_bangalore_vol2.pdf |title=Essays on Bangalore |publisher=Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology |others=Convenors Vinod Vyasulu and Amulya Kumar N. Reddy |year=1985 |volume=2 |chapter=A Study of the Climate of Bangalore}}
• {{Cite book |last=Subramanian |first=D. K. |url=http://www.kscst.iisc.ernet.in/essays_bangalore/essays_on_bangalore_vol4.pdf |title=Essays on Bangalore |publisher=Karnataka State Council for Science and Technology |others=Convenors Vinod Vyasulu and Amulya Kumar N. Reddy |year=1985 |volume=4 |chapter=Bangalore City's Water Supply - A Study and Analysis}}

• {{Cite book |last=Nair |first=Janaki |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EMHengEACAAJ |title=The Promise of the Metropolis: Bangalore's Twentieth Century |date=2005 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-566725-7 |language=en}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Nath |first=Sanchayan |date=2021 |title=Managerial, clientelist or populist? Lake governance in the Indian city of Bangalore |journal=Water International |language=en |publisher=Routledge, Taylor & Francis |volume=46 |issue=4 |pages=524–542 |doi=10.1080/02508060.2021.1926827 |issn=0250-8060 |s2cid=235769625|doi-access=free |bibcode=2021WatIn..46..524N }}
• {{Cite journal |last=Ramesh |first=Aditya |date=2021 |title=Flows and fixes: water, disease and housing in Bangalore, 1860–1915 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0963926821000705/type/journal_article |journal=Urban History |language=en |pages=1–23 |doi=10.1017/S0963926821000705 |s2cid=244003581 |issn=0963-9268|doi-access=free }}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Gouri |first1=R L |last2=Srinivas |first2=V V |date=2015 |title=Reliability Assessment of a Storm Water Drain Network |journal=Aquatic Procedia |language=en |publisher=Elsevier |volume=4 |pages=772–779 |doi=10.1016/j.aqpro.2015.02.160|doi-access=free |bibcode=2015AqPro...4..772G }}
• {{Cite journal |last=K |first=Chandrakanth |date=March 2018 |title=Ecological Impact of Urban Development: Lakes of Bengaluru |url=https://tekton.mes.ac.in/issues/volume-5-issue-1/papers-essays/ecological-impact-of-urban-development-lakes-of-bengaluru/ |journal=Tekton |volume=5 |issue=1 |pages=22–45}}
• {{Cite journal |last=Sundaresan |first=Jayaraj |date=2011 |title=Planning as Commoning: Transformation of a Bangalore Lake |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/41319486 |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |volume=46 |issue=50 |pages=71–79 |jstor=41319486 |issn=0012-9976}}
• {{Cite journal |last1=Yashas |first1=V |last2=Aman |first2=Bagrecha |last3=Dhanush |first3=S |date=2021-03-01 |title=Feasibility study of floating solar panels over lakes in Bengaluru City, India |journal=Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers - Smart Infrastructure and Construction |language=en |volume=174 |issue=1 |pages=1–10 |doi=10.1680/jsmic.21.00002a |issn=2397-8759|doi-access=free }}
• {{Cite web |last=Paul |first=Jai M. |date=2014 |title=Modelling of Lake Water Balance and Ground Water Surface Water Interaction Using Remote Sensing Gis and Isotope Techniques |url=http://hdl.handle.net/10603/347116 |publisher=Bangalore University |hdl=10603/347116 |via=Shodhganga}}
• {{Citation |title=Preservation of Lakes in the City of Bangalore. Report of the Committee constituted by the Hon'ble High Court of Karnataka to examine the ground realities and prepare an action plan for preservation of lakes in the City of Bangalore. |date=2011 |url=https://karunadu.karnataka.gov.in/ldakarnataka/Documents/LakeReport_26thFeb2011.pdf |publication-place=karunadu.karnataka.gov.in Official Website of Government of Karnataka |ref={{sfnref|High Court of Karnataka committee report, Preservation of Lakes in the City of Bangalore|2011}}}}
• {{Cite web |last=Brownstein |first=Daniel |date=1 March 2021 |title=Bangalore's Disappearing Lakes |url=https://www.guerrillacartography.org/blog/bangalores-disappearing-lakes |website=Guerrilla Cartography}}
• {{Cite web |last=Palanichamy |first=Raj Bhagat |date=7 September 2022 |title=Overpopulation, concrete jungle, altered landscape: Decoding Bengaluru's urban flood woes |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/news-analysis/story/decoding-the-causes-behind-bengaluru-flooding-woes-1997488-2022-09-07 |website=India Today}}
• {{Cite web |last1=Kulranjan |first1=Rashmi |last2=Palur |first2=Shashank |date=2022-03-07 |title=Crowdmapping Bengaluru's Vanishing Lakes |url=https://www.indiaspend.com/data-gaps/crowdmapping-bengalurus-vanishing-lakes-806956 |access-date= |website=IndiaSpend}}

{{commons category}}

• [https://ksrsac.karnataka.gov.in/map.aspx Geospatial Data for Bengaluru Urban/Rural] via Karnataka State Remote Sensing Applications Centre
• [https://site.bbmp.gov.in/departmentwebsites/Lakes/g4.html 167 Lakes in BBMP Custody] via official website of the Lakes Department of BBMP
• Rajakaluve Encroachment Finder {{URL|https://www.rajakaluve.org/}}
• Karnataka land records ([https://landrecords.karnataka.gov.in/service3/Lakeencroachment.aspx Digital Maps of Lakes]) ([https://landrecords.karnataka.gov.in/service3/lakesurvey.aspx Survey Maps of Lakes])
• [https://www.oncetherewasalake.org/ Once There Was a Lake]
• [https://en-us.topographic-map.com/maps/tlvh/Bengaluru/ topographic-map.com]

{{Bangalore topics}}

*

Category:Geography of Bengaluru

B