Campaign against lake privatisation

Campaign against lake privatisation

Divya Gandhi

Four lakes have been leased out to private parties

300 people have signed up online

Bangalore: In a new protest against privatisation of lakes in the city, almost 500 residents have signed appeals —online and in person — urging Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dilip Kumar to “abandon” the programme of handing over lakes to private companies to develop them into recreation hubs.

The PCCF has been asked to submit a status report on the city’s lakes to the High Court later this week, following a public interest litigation petition filed by the Environment Support Group (ESG).

Four lakes have been leased out by the Lake Development Authority for development to private parties for 15 years on a develop-operate-transfer basis. Six others will be “adopted” by private developers for five years.

The development activity, which involves the introduction of restaurants, kiosks, boating, water sports and jetties “is unethical and counter to the objective of environment conservation and maintenance of lakes as our public commons. In addition, they support a wide diversity of flora and fauna, and support the livelihoods of many fishing families,” the online petition, posted by ESG, reads.

Three hundred people have signed up at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/blorelakes/index.html. Another 150 signed up for a signature campaign on the same issue.

Smitu Kothari, a Delhi-based activist, said he joined the campaign as lakes, being people’s commons, should be the responsibility of the State, which has to ensure they are kept accessible.

In a bid to save the last among the four lakes leased out to private companies — Lake Agara in Koramangala — over 60 residents of Bangalore signed a similar petition to the PCCF on Sunday, expressing concern at the developmental activities to be initiated by Biota Natural Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd. on the lake.