HC seeks report on City lakes

HC seeks report on City lakes
DH News Service,Bangalore:
Warning that the destruction of lakes would lead to warming of the City, the High Court on Monday directed the State Government to submit a comprehensive report in connection with the conservation and development of lakes, including the creation of new water bodies on Government lands.


The Court was hearing a petition by Environment Support Group (ESG), a City-based NGO that had challenged the privatisation of Hebbal lake, Nagavara lake and other lakes. The division bench comprising of Chief Justice P D Dinakaran and Justice K L Manjunath directed the State to file the report based on several suggestions it has made.
The Division Bench suggested maintenance of the available lakes, a relook at the policy regarding the lake conservation by giving more teeth to the authorities (Forest Department) and exploring the possibilities of creating new water bodies by the state owned organisations that had encroached upon City lakes.
The petitioner submitted that privatisation will affect lakes badly.
Advocate General Udaya Holla said that the State had leased out the lakes as the maintenance of these lakes required a lot of money and the Public Private partnership will enable them to address the problems like sewerage. When informed that the private parties had invested a huge sum of money into the lake development, ESG said that the lakes were in bad shape. But considering their importance, the Government of Norway funded the development of the lakes. The Support Group expressed the apprehension that they might get worse again.
The Bench immediately observed orally saying “It was like this before. Therefore Norway came in. We do not want another such situtaion. We are self sustained now.”
The bench also came down heavily on the Lake Development Authority for its inaction, stating: “They have given up, it is better to close it up. We will be happy if it is closed.”
Officials helpless
The officials of Forest Department and Lake Development Authorities have expressed their helplessness to protect the lake. Meera Saxena, Secertary, Forest Department said that they have no locus standi to clear encroachment.
LDA officials in their defence said that they are just registered as society. “We are authorised to develop lakes. But neither can we divert sewage nor prosecute trespassers.”


OFFICIALS SAY

The LDA officials said that 114 lakes have been handed over to the Forest Department.
They said that 56 of them have been converted into layouts.


COURT WARNS

Chief Justice P D Dinakaran warned the State Government against constant destruction of water bodies and greenary in the City.
The court, considering the investment made, said that there would be no more leasing of lakes other than Hebbal and Nagavara lakes.
A sustainable model with suggestions like restricting the use of motor boats in the lakes and refraining the private owners from cooking in the lake premises as well as reducing the entry fees are also in the list.