PIL against privatisation of lakes admitted

PIL against privatisation of lakes admitted

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday admitted a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by Environmental Support Group and environment activist Leo Saldana challenging the privatisation of some lakes in Bangalore. The petitioners questioned the legal framework under which the privatisation of Agara, Hebbal and Nagawara lakes have been taken up.

They said the State recently decided to privatise some of the lakes and tanks around Bangalore and the beneficiaries of this policy are hoteliers and builders. While some builders had already gone ahead with constructions adjacent to the lakes which were leased to them, others had started dredging operations without taking the permission of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice Ravi Malimath admitted the petitions and ordered issue of notices to the State, Department of Forests and Ecology, Lake Development Authority and other respondents.

The Bench adjourned the cases to May 27.