SURAT: With a view to restore the vanishing water bodies and to provide recreational facilities to residents in the diamond city, Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has drawn up a plan to revive the existing lakes on public private partnership (PPP) basis.

Official sources said seven water bodies (lakes) have been identified by the civic body for revival and setting up of recreational facilities, including lake gardens, amusement facilities for children, cafeterias, and boating and water sports.

The lakes offered for development on PPP basis are located in Dumas, Magdalla, Abhava, Bhimrad, Pal and Budiya.

Recently, expression of Interest (EOIs) from interested parties was invited. At least 17 private parties have shown interest in developing the lakes.

Additional city engineer J K Shah told TOI, "Lakes are vital parts of freshwater ecosystem and if maintained properly, they could offer many beneficial uses in urban areas. As the lakes give beautiful landscape view to the city, we have decided to develop seven water bodies in the first phase."

According to Shah, lakes encircled with trees and parks perhaps could be the only place where the urban population can find a place close to nature. The urban population can free themselves from the polluted urban air and find solace in the cool air by the lake side and relax in recreational activities such as swimming, boating, fishing etc.

"Along with the revival of the water bodies, the civic body is also making a long-term provision for recharging of the groundwater. The capabilities of these lakes to trap and store rainwater are enormous and water harvested in the lakes could meet city's water requirements partially," Shah said.