When the National Green Tribunal said that no construction should take place within 75 metres of a lake buffer zone, everyone expected BBMP to swing into action and save the lakes of Bengaluru. What has shocked eco-activists is the insensitivity of civic officals who have neither done their job of demarcating areas adjoining wetlands, nor submitted the report to the Environment Ministry. And the latest shocker? The government aims to appeal to NGT to decrease the buffer zone for construction. Is it a sign that it has given in to the realty lobby? Shwetha Satyanarayan reports
Is the Siddaramaiah government really committed to saving the city from the annual flooding it experiences? On the one hand it is going about demolishing buildings encroaching on storm water drains in the city, essential to restore continuity of the SWD network and stop waterlogging of roads and low lying localities, and on the other it is getting ready to appeal against the National Green Tribunal order of May this year increasing the buffer zone for construction around lakes from 30 metres to 75 metres and also around drains, which can only help its cause.
Although the government should have made the necessary demarcations around wetlands within four weeks of the NGT order and submitted a report to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, it has done nothing of the kind. Instead it seems to be hoping it doesn’t have to by appealing against it. Whether it will succeed in staying the NGT diktat is another question as the Supreme Court has already come down heavily on urban local bodies after the recent flooding in Bengaluru, Delhi and Gurgaon.
The government’s volte face has increased speculation that it is once again playing into the hands of the real estate bigwigs who are the worst affected by the NGT order as many large construction projects near lakes are stuck midway with the process of sanctioning their plans coming to a standstill over the last few months. While several builders, who had announced soft launches while awaiting statutory permissions, are a worried lot, owners of existing properties close to lakes fear they could lose value over the years.
Although its not clear what the government intends to suggest as an alternative to the NGT order, CREDAI (Bengaluru) claims the tribunal doesn’t make sense. There is no rationale in altering the buffer zone decades after the buildings were constructed, it argues.
“Our objection is to the direction to demolish the existing buildings, which have been constructed as per the 30 metre buffer zone mandate. How can the government sanction a plan and then call it illegal only because of the recent NGT order? We aren’t requesting the NGT to let violations off the hook, but those who have genuinely constructed buildings as per the norms should not have to pay the price,” said CREDAI secretary, Suresh Hari.
Noting that the city is already bursting at the seams, he says if the government wants to develop it properly, it has to draw up a sustainable plan, which doesn’t adversely affect the common man. “Just by expanding the buffer zone, the lakes are not benefiting in any way. Builders are not against lake rejuvenation. Penalize those who have violated the norms, but don’t make everyone pay a price,” he insisted. But the Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF),which along with other NGOs , has challenged the various building illegalities in the ecologically sensitive area between Agara and Bellandur lakes, calls the government’s decision to appeal against an environmentally-sound plan “unfortunate.”
Said NBF CEO, Sridhar Pabbisetty, “Urban flooding is a huge problem in Bengaluru. We don’t know what the government plans to suggest as an alternative to the green tribunal order and are waiting to see if it has a solid plan to offer. We will respond accordingly. We haven’t received any official communication yet on its move to appeal against the NGT order.”
Guest column: State govt should revive wetlands in city, order removal of encroachments
The all important order
Buffer zone for construction around lakes increased from 30 meters to 75 metres
The revised buffer zone is 50 meters, 35 metres and 25 metres for primary, secondary and tertiary drains respectively. Buffer zone around rajakaluves to be measured from the edge of the drain.
All existing constructions in the city, which fall within such buffer zones, must be demolished and no further constructions permitted here
Karnataka must submit a proposal demarcating wetlands within four weeks to MoEF , and the same shall be notified
SEIAA to prepare a muck disposal plan within three months.
NGT verdict, a big step to reclaim public land, lakes
The unprecedented ruling by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) was a big boost to the citizens and NGOs fighting the negligence and rampant corruption that is slowly but surely killing Bengaluru, its public land, lakes and environment.
The NGT verdict is a victory in the struggle of Bengalureans to reclaim public land and lakes and to protect our water bodies and groundwater from the unholy nexus of corrupt officials and builders. This government has demonstrated a remarkable proximity to builders and real estate interests and it’s unfortunate that to protect them it is appealing and contesting the NGT order. It has forgotten that its duty is to serve and protect the city and its people and not vested interests
—Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Govt toeing real estate lobby line?
Finding the government’s opposition to the National Green Tribunal order increasing the buffer zone around lakes hard to digest, lake activist, Vijayan Menon believes it has only exposed its loyalty to the real estate lobby.
“Here is a revolutionary order, which ensures that our lakes and wetlands are free from encroachments and the government has not even started talking about reviving wetlands and sewage treatment plants. Instead it is already thinking of appealing against it. It has made it obvious where its loyalty lies. It is not with the people but the real estate lobby. Yet again, the government’s non-seriousness about saving lakes is there for all to see,” he deplored.
Calling the government’s claim of working in the people’s interests by bringing down encroachments on storm water drains as hogwash, he argues that it is not going about it scientifically. Instead of demolishing all encroachments, the government should have done a hydrological study to understand the conditions of lakes, in his view. “Dead lakes should be closed down and water channels created. If compensation is to be given to properties where water channels run, a proper plan must be drawn up. Long term planning is the need of the hour,” he emphasised.
Finding more loopholes in the ongoing demolition drive in the city, a member of Save Bellandur, observed, “The government agencies have so far not spoken about projects that are underway and no action has been planned against buildings, which are still under construction. Isn’t it easier to demolish vacant buildings that are violating norms rather than those that are occupied? Yet the government is silent about such constructions.”
He believes the only positive outcome of the demolition drive is that buyers are now more aware of the dangers of buying properties near lakes and drains, which could work to the city’s future advantage .
