Koliwad's sting operation to save Bengaluru lakes?

BENGALURU: A secret committee will be constituted to supervise the information provided by all the tahsildars, ACs and survey authorities to verify the facts, said K. B. Koliwad, chairman of the legislature committee on encroachment of lake beds.

Lashing out at Tahsildars and Deputy Commissioners, on Monday, for furnishing half- baked information on lake encroachments, he announced that the committee will be empowered to scrutinize the total information all over again.
Officials who are found guilty would be suspended, warned Mr Koliwad.

During the review meeting with officials, Mr. Koliwad questioned why there was a huge mismatch with regard to information on the number of lakes and the extent of encroachments. He also questioned Tahsildars of Yelahanka and Bengaluru (North) for their reasons for refraining from issuing notices to government offices and asked them bluntly what favours they get in return.

“Is there a rule that government offices should not be issued notices? If there is any such rule, let the committee be informed to exempt public offices which have encroached on the lake land,” said Mr. Koliwad.

Mr. Koliwad ordered deputy commissioners to inquire why most Tahsildars had mismatched information on the number of lakes. If Tahsildars were found guilty for furnishing wrong information they would be liable for appropriate action.
Deputy commissioner (Rural) S. Palaiah said he was not informed about the meeting and no notices have been issued to encroachers. However, he sought a week’s time to issue notices to both public and private encroachers.

Mr. Koliwad fixed a fresh deadline of February 29 for slapping notices to both private and public encroachers. Besides, he directed all the Assistant Commissioners (AC) to review the information furnished by the Tahsildars.
Though the committee was satisfied with the Tahsildars’ committee, he directed Deputy Commissioners to reconstitute the ACs committee for better scrutiny.

Final report on encroachment in 3 to 4 months: Panel head

The final report on the encroachment of lakes in Bengaluru Urban and Rural districts along with recommendations will be submitted to the government within three to four months to nail land sharks, said Mr K.B. Koliwad, chairman of the legislature committee on encroachment of lakebeds.

After the review meeting, he told reporters on Monday that demolition of structures built on lakebeds has been stopped until the final report is given and the committee members will later decide on the fate of encroached buildings.
Asked how they will ensure implementation of the report, he said that the lake committee has followed principles of natural justice and given a chance to the victims to present their case.

“Earlier, Mr Lakshman Rau, the then BBMP administrator, has given a report on lake encroachments. Mr A.T. Ramaswamy could not submit the final report as the government was dissolved and a report by Mr V. Basasubramanian had not been accepted by the government. But the lake committee report, which has heard the encroachers, will be implemented. This is different from other reports. Encroachers will it find it difficult to get a stay from the court,” he said.

BDA warned against lake encroachment

“The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has granted an interim stay following a petition filed by two people. Why is the BDA, which has earned a bad reputation of encroaching 23 lakes, is still encroaching lakes for Kempegowda Layout,” Mr Koliwad asked.

In reply, BDA Commissioner T. Sham Bhat said that as many as 14 lakes fall under the layout and measures have been taken to develop them. As far as the stay is concerned, the BDA has obtained environment clearance. The petitioners have sought ex-parte stay form NGT. The tribunal will be briefed about the ground realities, he said.

Mr Koliwad said that apart from 23 lakes, the BDA has been accused of encroaching 97 acres on 18 other lakes. The committee members also sought a written reply within a week.

‘Survey Raja Kaluve in two months’

Lake committee members S. Suresh Kumar and N.A. Haris asked the BBMP and revenue department what was stopping them from surveying Raja Kaluves in the core areas of Bengaluru.

Mr Koliwad said that the city has 1,088 km of Raja Kaluves, of which 596 km has been surveyed. Most of the surveyed areas fall in the periphery of the city. “Five months had been sought to given the complete survey report. But already, three months have lapsed. The report has to be given in another two months,” he said. The Survey Department has sought time till April 30 to give the report.

Suggestions

• Provide buffer zones for solid waste management plants at Seegehalli and Kannahalli
• Earmark a spot for sewage treatment plant (STP) at Kempegowda Layout
• Ensure the STP at Bellandur Lake is not relocated
• Survey the drain network and fix problems to avoid Chennai-like floods
• Details of lake encroachment should be Gazzetted