Despite Master Plan, BBMP approves building on buffer zone!

Bengaluru: Rarely does the BBMP learn from its mistakes. On one hand, if the BBMP officials are scrambling their heads to find and authenticate British-era survey maps of the city; on the other hand the same BBMP officials have neglected the 2005 Master Plan and have approved a layout on a lake buffer zone.

In Basapura near Hosur Road, there are two Basapura Lakes, which also connect to the Begur Lake through a channel. After being neglected for years, while one lake is being rejuvenated at the cost of Rs 2.75 crore, the other lake is standing on a ticking time-bomb with one or the other government agency violating norms, say the local residents.

Dileep, a resident of Basapura and founder-member of  Save Basapura Lake forum, said, “About 5 years ago, the BDA approved ‘Duo City’, a gated community on the fringes of the lake. On noticing that houses were on the buffer zone of the lake, the Lake Development Authority officials conducted a survey and warned the BDA. The encroachments were removed and the lake area was fenced. However, it was only a matter of time before the BBMP committed another violation!”

According to Dileep, when the BBMP awarded a tender to segregate garbage, the contractor set up makeshift homes for the workers right on the lake buffer zone. Not only did the garbage choke the lake, it caused flooding in the areas around the lake. As if this wasn’t enough, the BBMP has sanctioned the building plan of ‘Laasya Lakeview’, an apartment building constructed in different phases on the buffer zone of the Basapura Lake.

“The NGT order on constructions in lake and drain buffer zones is very recent. But the BBMP officials were aware of the 2005 Master Plan and the lake survey map. Despite all the records being at the disposal of the BBMP, the officials have given permission for illegal constructions. These officials get away scot-free while innocent home buyers pay the price,” Dileep concluded regretfully.