Bengaluru Dry Lakebeds Turned into Solar Parks

Bengaluru’s power utility, Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (BESCOM), is converting dry, degraded lakebeds into solar parks to overcome the city’s land-crunch for renewable energy generation.

According to a report in The Times of India, four sites have already seen 5–6 MW solar units commissioned, and BESCOM aims to set up 250–300 MW total capacity around the city by December 2025.

These lakebeds belong to irrigation and rural development departments and are no longer part of rejuvenation projects, making them eligible for reuse.

The solar installations are designed to be temporary and removable to avoid permanent impact on the lakebeds.

Under the central government’s Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan–C (Kusum-C) scheme, rural agricultural feeders are being solarised; BESCOM’s area alone has 1,088 MW under progress, with another 500 MW in the planning stage.

By tapping these formerly unused lands in a large tier-2/3 urban context, Bengaluru is aiming to improve its clean-energy credentials and set an example for Indian cities dealing with land scarcity and energy transition.