Archive · 23 Sep 2026
World Bank Project Targets Revival of 500 Lakes
A project will repair 500 lakes in seven districts.
The World Bank is helping pay for the project.
Some of the lakes have dried up or do not have enough water.
This is partly because there has not been enough rain.
Workers will remove mud and repair the lake banks.
They will also fix canals and channels that carry water.
Officials were told to finish quickly.
The hope is that the lakes can collect water when the post-monsoon rains arrive.
A World Bank-assisted project will revive 500 water bodies across seven districts.
The plan includes 44 lakes in Bidar and 49 in Kalaburagi.
The project also covers lakes in Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru and Kolar.
The World Bank has provided Rs 150 crore for desilting, bund repairs, canal work and beautification.
Minister Eshwar B Khandre directed district officials to speed up the work before post-monsoon rains.
- Who
- The World Bank, the state government, Minister Eshwar B Khandre and district officials are involved.
- What
- A World Bank-assisted project will revive 500 lakes and other water bodies.
- When
- The directions were issued during a meeting held amid a drought-like situation; officials were asked to complete the work before post-monsoon rains.
- Where
- The project covers seven districts: Bidar, Kalaburagi, Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru Urban, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru and Kolar.
- Why
- The work aims to address lakes that have dried up or face water shortages because of deficient rainfall.
- Total water bodies
- 500
- Districts covered
- Seven
- World Bank funding
- Rs 150 crore
- Bidar lakes
- 44
- Kalaburagi lakes
- 49
- Planned works
- Desilting, bund repair and strengthening, raising bund heights, beautification, and repairs to canals and feeder channels
- Project objective
- Restore lakes affected by drying and water shortages