It’s a positive change that state-appointed committees are exposing the magnitude of government land encroachments. With such reports, there is more awareness among people and citizens are sensitized to the encroachments made by bigwigs. However, the biggest flaw of the Koliwad Committee is that the same legislative and political party members are also the members of the committee. The government should have elected a committee comprising experts, environmentalists, retired officers and honest citizens.
Meanwhile, it’s also welcome that we are now seeing changes that could have not been imagined earlier with the intervention of the High Court. The court has been indiscriminate and in the past has ordered even the demolition of buildings constructed by reputed builders. These changes give us hope that the report will not gather dust and there will be quicker response to it.
If the state government had to take action by itself, maybe it would need more time, but the court’s intervention is an assurance there will be stricter and swift action.
Now that the report is available to the state government, it must be tabled in the Assembly. Later, the builders and plot owners must be given time before the demolition drive. The state government must understand that the future and health of the city depends on the environmental assets like lakes and parks.
On recovering the encroached land, the government must enrich the catchment areas. With the revival of catchment areas, lakes are naturally rejuvenated and groundwater table is recharged.
It’s sad to recall that Madiwala and Ulsoor lakes, which were once drinking water sources, are now completely contaminated. Before more lakes die the same death, the government must focus on reviving our water bodies.
