Bengaluru: As the city suffers from acute water shortage and intermittent water supply in several areas, all political parties have dedicated separate sections in their manifestos to address the problem. All of them have assured Bengalureans that they have a solution to the problem.
The BJP has promised to constitute a new Bengaluru Lake Conservation and Development Authority (BLCDA), a regulatory body focussing entirely on protection of lakes and storm water drains (SWD).
The party says its Namma Bengaluru Namma Jala, a comprehensive framework of policies and laws, would ensure water security through rejuvenation of rivers and lakes. “A Rs 2,500 crore Nadaprabhu Kempegowda Fund to clean and revive the lakes and rivers of Bengaluru and free Bengalureans from the water tanker mafia will be created,” the manifesto reads. Though the Congress was at the helm for the last five years, it never implemented the Laksham Rao report on conservation of lakes. But the party in its manifesto has promised to restore lakes based on the suggestions made in the report.
To deal with water scarcity, the party, if it comes to power, has promised to recharge wells and create a separate diversion for retreatment and disposal of untreated water so that it does not enter the water bodies meant for drinking purposes.
Tree doctor Vijay Nishanth was happy that the BJP has included a separate section for carrying out a tree census as part of their initiative to increase green cover in the city. “For the past many years, citizens have been demanding such a census. I am happy that the BJP took note and included it in their manifesto. The party has said 'one house one tree programme' will be implemented to maintain the green cover in the city,” he said.
Though the AAP and JD(S) have promised to remove encroachments from the lakebed, their manifestos do not specifically deal with water security issues.
