Said P N Nayak, BDA engineering member: "The BDA has started fencing the lake wherever required; we have also begun clearing the silt."

However, when TOI visited the lakebed, only one JCB was seen removing water hyacinth on the Yemalur side of the waterbody. Officials said actual dredging and deweeding work will begin in earnest from Tuesday. Also present at the site were officials from the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), along with lake conservator B V Subba Rao, advisor at Centre for Climate Change in Engineering Staff College of India, Hyderabad.

After inspecting the lake area, Subba Rao said: "The wake-up call for Bellandur Lake came very late. Most urban lakes across the country are in similar shape. These waterbodies are suffering due to urbanization that's leading to further increase in sewage and waste. An effective municipal solid waste management system is a must. There should also be better coordination between the civic agencies in charge of lakes."

Subba Rao said he has been invited by Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA) to inspect the lake as he has been involved in revival of similar waterbodies. "Based on my immediate observations, I'll be submitting an action plan to the authorities for the lake's rejuvenation and will be visiting the place again sometime next week. The construction debris and water hyacinth can be removed in less than a month," he added.

However, lack of coordination between civic agencies over the lake's rejuvenation was clearly visible on day one of the work itself. Officials from several agencies reached the place at different times, clearly indicating not all are on the same page yet.