BELAGAVI: In what could be a major relief for those who have built their homes on lake beds in Bengaluru, the House committee constituted to inquire into encroachment of lakes, is likely to recommend to the state government to stop its demolition drive.
The committee, headed by Congress MLA K B Koliwad, has drawn up an interim report which would be submitted to Mr. Kagodu Thimmappa, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, in Bengaluru next week.
Among the recommendations accessed by Deccan Chronicle are: an end to the demolition drive against residential structures as well as public buildings on lake beds. For instance, many public buildings, including KSRTC bus stand, schools, and solid waste management units were constructed on lake bed. “BDA has encroached more than 3500 acres lake bed area, and allotted over 65,000 sites on which people have already constructed houses. These houses cannot be bracketed as illegal,” a member of the committee told this newspaper.
The committee, however, would take serious view on the role of the real estate mafia and officers in BBMP and BDA who facilitated encroachment of lakes. It would suggest to the state government to initiate criminal proceedings against errant officials and major real estate entities for encroaching upon lakes bed, the member added.
As authorities of Bengaluru (Urban) administration have already demolished a few residential buildings constructed on lake beds in Sarakki, Puttenahalli and Jaraganahalli lakes, the committee would suggest payment of compensation and rehabilitation of people displaced during the drive. Besides, the committee would recommend preservation of existing lakes in Bengaluru. Since there are no specific boundaries for few lakes out of 23 lakes in the city, the committee has decided to recommend that the government fix specific boundaries, and fence these water bodies immediately to stop further encroachment. For this, committee has deputed surveyor carryout a survey of all lakes in the city.
Meanwhile, Mr. Koliwad said “the committee will submit an interim report to the Speaker during legislature in Bengaluru. Before July 14 or 15, the committee will sit to finalize the interim report”, he added.
Former chief minister H. D. Kumaraswamy and former minister Suresh Kumar (both members of the committee) requested that the committee should meet in Bengaluru instead of Belagavi, Mr. Koliwad added.
