Beira Lake intervention area development plan gets underway
The Government is implementing a new Beira Lake intervention area development plan aimed at restoring the lake and turning it into a scenic asset in Colombo, setting aside the former regime’s project spearheaded by former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa, a senior official of the Ministry of Megapolis and Western Development told the Business Times.
The banks of Beria Lake will be developed initially before executing the development activities on the land adjoining the lake whilst improving the quality of environment and beauty of the city.
The Cabinet granted approval this week to carry out the development of the banks of the lake clearing all nearby slum dwellings, controlling water pollution and safeguarding natural environment, he said.
The construction of a linear park around the Beira Lake will be completed in the initial stage prior to the launching of this mega development project which will be implemented in five phases, he revealed.
With a highly urbanised catchment of 448 hectares, even today the lake is considered a centre for residential, commercial, tourism and religious activities although the present pollution has affected the picturesque locality.
To overcome the environmental pollution, families living in shanties along the lake will be provided housing units with more facilities in the condominium housing schemes under construction.
Warehouses and garages by the side of lake will be relocated to use the land surrounding the lake for more productive uses.
Most of the lands belong to Sri Lanka Railway Department, Ports Authority, warehouses, and private parties.
More than 70 government and private institutions, and over 1,000 smaller private institutions and residential properties are located in the area.
The previous Rajapaksa regime had built 384 houses utilising a grant of Rs. 1.35 billion received for the Beira Lake Development project in 2016. It also relocated Colombo pavement hawkers into a new shopping complex on the lake side.