18-year-old circular on use of dried up water bodies by industries goes

Bengaluru: The 18-year old government circular that had enabled the state government to lease out or allow constructions by industries in dried up water bodies in government land, has been withdrawn with immediate effect, revenue and skill development minister, R.V. Deshpande said.

The government has issued a new circular regarding this and all the deputy commissioners were instructed not to send any more proposals to the government for allocating water bodies which have lost their original shape, to any industry or private organization, the minister elaborated.

He described the new circular as a major step towards the conservation of the environment and water bodies.

Recently the Supreme Court had warned the concerned authorities against using government owned water bodies for any public or private purpose. In addition, the Union environment and forest ministry also included tanks/bunds under its ‘Wetlands (conservation and Management) Rules, 2010’. Further, the National Green Tribunal also directed all the governments to take proper steps to preserve government owned water bodies across the country, Mr Deshpande recalled.

As per the earlier circular which was in existence from the year 2000, the Deputy Commissioners had the power to send the proposals to the government for granting water bodies to private organizations of industrialists on the recommendation of the water resources department. But now it has been withdrawn with immediate effect, the minister explained.