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.