BENGALURU: For the second day running, Deputy Chief Minister Dr G. Parameshwar raised his plan to ban construction of new high rises for five years, or until the issue of the looming water shortage in the city is resolved.
The state government plans to deny permission for the construction of new apartments in the city, he had said, adding that the proposal was being discussed and that he wanted to throw it open for discussion.
"We are working on pros and cons and will come out with a rule. Discussion will take place with the builders before bringing in any such ban," he said , inaugurating the 102 annual general body meeting of FKCCI, Friday.
On the bruising criticism from the real estate industry, Dr Parameshwar, who is also Bengaluru Development Minister, said, “I am just taking precautions because I don't want the city to come to a stage where we won't have water. If the Cauvery river goes dry for two months, we have to be prepared. Industry experts should understand that we should have water. Borewells have gone dry.
If I talk about Yettinahole, there will be protests and the same goes with Linganamakki."
While environmental experts have said that the priority should be the rejuvenation of the lakes, as a possible water source, to which Dr Parameshwar said that the lakes were rejuvenated and the government has tried recycling water as well.
