Karnataka government lacks political will to protect lakes

Bengaluru: Various citizens' groups carried out an inspection of Bellandur, Varthur and Rampura lakes and lamented that state government lacked the political will to safeguard the city's water bodies and called for collective action to save them.

Due to the rampant corruption, the officials at lower and  middle level are doing nothing to prevent the rampant encroachment of these lakes, said Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Founder Trustee, Namma Bengaluru Foundation and Rajya Sabha member. 

It is tragic that the city which houses ISRO and the IT industry and has so many good well-meaning people must be saddled with a reputation of living in a state that houses the most corrupt government in the country, he added. 

Lok Sabha MP P.C. Mohan said, "This was a beautiful lake and we want it to be as it was. All agencies and the state government are passing the buck between themselves. Elected representatives like myself and Rajeev Chandrasekhar want to stress to the government to put all lakes under one agency. We have also involved Resident Welfare Associations and experts. The govt has to tell us the short and long term plans it has for the lakes. We also demand that the government take into consideration the suggestions of Resident Welfare Associations and experts."

N. S. Mukunda, Founding President, Citizen Action Forum said, "This is a very good initiative because it's very important to clean up and rejuvenate our lakes.” 

Naresh Narasimhan, Member, Naagarika said, "Lake issue in Bengaluru faces a grid problem. Another cause of concern is the inflow of untreated sewage into all our lakes. The BWSSB has failed to control the same despite spending crores. It must be restructured and brought under BBMP's ambit. This will ensure accountability and transparency in BWSSB."