 Sir K. Seshadri Iyer, the then Dewan of erstwhile Mysore state and the then Chief Engineer of Mysuru, M. C. Hutchins, planned to build the scheme called the "Chamarajendra Water Works" to store a three-years' water supply to the city.The lake is approachable by road from Bengaluru at a distance of 26.5 km to the north-west of the City.The total catchment area draining into the Lake at the dam built on the River Arkavati is 73.84 km2 (2189 mi2), out of which the direct draining catchment is 2.68 km2 (6.86 sq mi2).