Bengaluru: The lake groups on Tuesday decided to joined hands and form Federation of Bengaluru Lakes to reach out to a larger section of city residents.
The Federation will have subgroups looking for public outreach through social media. It was also decided that these subgroups will also raise funds to fight cases. However, it was decided that there would be no registration of Federation of Bengaluru Lakes.
One of the agendas for the meeting was to discuss the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA) and its repercussion on the water security and lakes.
V. Ramprasad, co-founder, Friends of Lake criticized the the recent amendment that allows construction of roads and bridges on the lake bed. Unlike Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA), KTCDA does not have a CEO, he added.
"Until now 33 roads have been proposed on the lake bed. We need a CEO for the recent amendment," he pointed out.
A general apprehension regarding the recent amendment is that a CEO in KLCDA could be approached for issues related to violation, but since the Chief Minister is heading the KTCDA, he could not be approached regularly. Moreover, the activists expect the KTCDA to remain a regulatory body and not have powers to execute.
The activists have also decided that the KTCDA amendment should prevent diversion of the treated water to either power plants or other purposes.
The political aspect behind the repeal of the KLCDA Act, according to the activists is that the CEO of the lake development authority had stopped the diversion of treated water from the STP of the K&C valley to Kolar.
