‘Bangalore warming’ irks judges

‘Bangalore warming’ irks judges

Staff Reporter

Bench expresses anguish over depletion of greenery, encroachment of lakes

Make up for encroachment of water bodies, judges urge Government

‘There is no need to acquire land for construction of lakes and tanks’

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday expressed deep anguish over the manner in which Bangalore’s famed water bodies, particularly lakes and greenery, were falling prey to growing urbanisation and urged the State Government to take steps to bring back the city’s lost water and green cover.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran and Justice K.L. Manjunath suggested that the Government could take steps to build the same number of tanks and lakes that had been breached or encroached upon in and around Bangalore city.

It said there is no need to acquire lands for building tanks.

The Government, it suggested, could make use of the exiting lands around Bangalore to build tanks.

The Bench made these oral observations when it was dealing with a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by Leo Saldanha and Environment Support Group (ESG) against the decision of the Lake Development Authority (LDA) to privatise four lakes in Bangalore — Hebbal, Agara, Nagwara and Vengainakere.

Clarifying that commercial activity could not take place in the four lakes that had been handed over to private entrepreneurs, it said the Forest Department could take a re-look at the issue.
LDA admonished

Taking to task the LDA for permitting privatisation of lakes, the Bench angrily observed that it was better to close down the agency.

The Bench said it did not want the lease to the four lakes to be renewed after the 15-year term expires. Nor did it want any commercial activity on the lakes.

It asked the promoters to whom the lakes had been leased to reduce the entrance fee to Rs. 15 per head and raise the yearly rental to 6 per cent instead of the current 1.5 per cent.

The Bench sought to know how many tanks were encroached upon by the Government and it asked the Advocate-General to convey to the Government the effects of “Bangalore warming”.

The Bench said Bangalore was already experiencing summer because of indiscriminate cutting of trees. It said it wanted the cooperation of the Government and other agencies in taking steps to restore the water bodies in Bangalore.

The court expressed surprise when it was told that the Government and several civic agencies had encroached on tanks and lakes.

Several lakes were breached by the BDA for forming layouts and recently a building to house the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board had come up on the Kamakshipalya lake.

It adjourned further hearing of the case to March 4.