Works on Varthur Lake: LDA kept out of loop by Irrigation Department
BENGALURU: Letters accessed by Deccan Chronicle reveal that the Karnataka Lake Development Authority (KLCDA) was not kept in the loop when in 2017, the Minor Irrigation (MI) Department took up civil construction works on the Varthur lakebed for laying pipelines to fill minor irrigation tanks in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts. It exposes the lackadaisical attitude of the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), which is the custodian of the lake. The BDA was pulled up by the KLCDA for not taking appropriate action against violators and allowing the construction without prior technical approvals of competent authorities.
The letter, dated September 14, 2017, states that upon visiting the lake on September 9, KLCDA officials observed that the Varthur lakebed was being used for building a road in complete violation of Section 14(6) of the KLCDA Act, 2014.
Environmentalists allege that show-cause notices to the MI Department and BDA might have annoyed senior officials and ministers, who were eyeing the vote bank by providing water to Kolar areas.
Terming the repeal of KLCDA Act and handing over the custody of lakes to the MI Department as a massive encroachment, Mr Ram Prasad, co-founder, Friends of Lake, said, "Encroachments inside the lake area of Varthur is an example of what the future is going to be if the lakes are transferred to the MI Department. Builders with properties alongside lakes will build 120-foot roads, encroaching lakes claiming it will not disturb the water holding capacity."
He said that if the MI department desilts three feet and claims they are increasing the water holding capacity and hence can build a 100 feet road, no one can raise a voice because MI laws allow such construction.
"The Sompura Village Lake on Sarjapura Road is a classic example of how the MI Department can build roads inside the lake, claiming the water holding capacity of the lake is not disturbed," he commented.
