I. Introduction:

1.
  1. One of the stated objectives of Lake Development Authority is to involve people in Lake Development Authority is to involve people in Lake Conservation works, as per its Public-Private-Participation-Policy.
  2. Further Lake Development Authority has been receiving formal as well as informal requests from various Residents Association / NGOs / Charitable Trusts / Corporate bodies / Educational Institutions etc., expressing their desire to participate actively, including financial commitments in the above objectives of protection and conservation of lakes.
  3. Hence, it is considered necessary to formulate Adopt a lake Scheme for such groups as above.This policy is fundamentally different from the EOI (DOT) policy by
    a)Not leasing the lake to developer
    b)The Lake Development Authority does not get full revenues as in Expression of Interest/DOT.
    c)And the initial period of adoption is only 5 years, unlike 15 years in case of EOI (DOT) policy.

2.
  1. The policy is for such lakes situated in the midst of residential areas that are already restored or are to be restored primarily for their ecological value being eco-sensitive, with the help and active participation of Local Citizen Committees, Residents Associations/Corporates and NGOs only. Where any of the aforementioned groups come forward willingly to develop and/or maintain the lakes primarily for ecological conservation and protection purposes, they will be encouraged to do so, in return for some user fees collection by them for low impact activities like boating/walking/jogging/strolling etc. so as to generate sufficient budget for the development and further maintenance of the lake. Such lakes will be managed by a lake management committee to be constituted for the purpose by the Lake Development Authority/Government in consultation with the Adopting Agencies. The Lake Management Committee is not required where the lake has been adopted by the Residents Associations, who will be given preference for adopting already developed lakes for further maintenance.
  2. The lakes offered under above scheme will be as approved by the Government from time to time.  In the first instance lakes shown in para IV are included in the Scheme.
3. Such policy is formulated to encourage peoples participation for adoption of lakes for conservation and maintenance of lakes.

4. The restoration and maintenance work etc. shall be as per plan submitted by the Adopting Agencies after the approval of the same by the Lake Development Authority. The Lake Development Authority would monitor the Technical and Financial progress of the sanctioned project regularly and would advise the Adopting Agency about modification of the plan, if any found necessary at any stage.

5. The entire cost of restoration and maintenance as per approved plan above will be borne by the Adopting Agency.

6. The Government/Lake Development Authority may also collaborate with the Adopting Agency regarding such development in a joint manner.

7. If any lake which has already been developed by Government/LDA in the past and is being adopted by the Adopting Agency for maintenance, the entire maintenance expenditure will be that of the agency.

8. Even in 5 and 6 above, the subsequent maintenance cost would be entirely that of the Adopting Agency. The maintenance work would generally include appointment of watchers, regular removal of the weeds, maintenance of the garden/electrical installations and other infrastructures, cleaning of silt-traps/waste weirs/vents etc., general protection of the lake/collection of gate fee etc. This would also include payment of electrical and water charges of any other such charges as required for proper development, upkeep and maintenance of the lake.

9. No commercial activity of any kind including fishing is permissible in the above programme of Adopt a Lake.  Commercial activity would also include running of fast food/ice-cream parlour/coffee bar etc. Swimming in lakes is also prohibited.

10. The only permissible activities for such lakes would be visit to Lake/Park/Jogging path/walk ways, limited number of peddle push boats and low-key-boating.

11. The management committee should dissuade people from Ganesha idol immersion in the lakes. They shall also clean the lake after immersion, if any. An entry fee will be permitted to be collected by the lake management committee duly approved by the Lake Development Authority for the above mentioned activities. A proper record of no. of visitors and fee collection etc. will be kept by the above committee for verification by the Lake Development Authority and keeping of the account.

12. The entire revenue from the above activities will have to be utilized for conservation and protection of the lakes.

13. The period for adoption will be for 5 years and can be continued further with mutual agreement.

14. It will be the responsibility of the Lake Management Committee to preserve the lake in unpolluted condition and they should take necessary action against such pollution/vandalism/dumping of solid waste in the lake and encroachment etc.

15. After restoration, it will be the responsibility of the Adopting Agency to protect the lake from encroachment.

16. a)Lake Development Authority/Government would extend technical necessary co-operation in Restoration and management of any of the adopted lakes, particularly in preparation of the Detailed Project Reports and in supervision and monitoring.

b)Subject to availability of budget and necessary approval from competent Authorities, Lake Development Authority may also collaborate with Adopting Agencies in a joint manner for which maximum contributors of Lake Development Authority/Government would be restricted to 30% of the sanctioned project cost, the rest being contributed by the Adopting Agency. In such cases, the revenue sharing will also be in 70:30 ratio between the Adopting Agency and the Lake Development Authority.

c)Lake Development Authority can also, subject to approval of the Government, execute the sanctioned Restoration Plan on behalf of the Adopting Agency on receipt of request and full contribution in this behalf from the latter. Subsequent management and maintenance will however have to be done by the Adopting agency as per standard conditions stipulated in the MOU.

17. In case of non fulfillment of obligations as contained in the MOU (to be signed between the Adopting Agency and LDA),the adoption permission is liable to be withdrawn.

18. Government/LDA may also resume back management of such adopted lakes in case of such request being made by the Adopting Agency due to their inability to conserve and maintain the lake. In such case, all the assets and funds accrued will also be resumed back to Government/LDA without any claim for compensation. Liability if any, will have to be borne by the Adopting Agency/Management committee.

19. The Government/LD reserves the right of entry/inspection and use of the lake for any lake related activities.

20. The Management Committee will create mass awareness in the locality regarding lake conservation issues.

21.The Government/LDA reserves the right to close the above Scheme at any time unilaterally.
 
II. PRINCIPLES OF SELECTION OF AGENCIES FOR ADOPTION OF LAKES

The Authority or any sub-committee constituted by Government/Lake Development Authority shall consider the application of each applicant on its merits and shall have special regard to the following principles in making the selection.
  • The objectives / bye laws and activities of the applicant bodies and public cause served by it, since its establishment.
  • The financial position of all such bodies, the total proposed investment in the lake development along with ways and means for raising resources for such development.
  • The present location of above applicant bodies. All things having equal preference will be given to such agencies that are in the proximity of the concerned lake, in case of there being more than one application for a particular lake.
  • The benefit likely to accrue to the lake and the general public of the locality by allotment of the lakes to such a body.
  • Special interest of the applicant bodies to adopt that particular lake (reason)
 
This Portal www.indiabuildinginfo.com is a venture of Jplan Infotech