Karnataka Lake Authority might just save the lakes

The Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA) is now in its final stages of becoming a full-fledged powerful body. Once this is formed, the expectation is that the city lakes will start seeing some improvement. 

The government’s objective in forming this Authority is to end the blame game and fix the ownership of the lakes. By implication, this will decide who should improve it and who is responsible for lake pollutions.

The Authority will have legal powers to take action against the errant officials and the organisations. The draft rules are getting finalised and then it will go for government signatures. All this will take around a month's time, Ramachandra, Secretary to Government (Environment and Ecology), Forest, Environment and Ecology Department, told Deccan Herald.

He explained, “We want to ensure that there are no loopholes in the new act and authority, and so it is taking some time. KLCDA will take stringent steps against encroachment, issue orders to clear encroachments and corrective measures to conserve water bodies across the State. It will also have powers to allocate funds to organisations.”

KLCDA is replacing Lake Development Authority, which did not have regulatory and penalising powers. “Earlier we used to observe but did not have the powers to do something other than just guide. But now we will have the powers. A survey of all the lakes will be done and the water bodies will be renovated. This will take four to five years.

The ridge portions will be connected and sewage entry will be stopped,” said S R Nagaraj, Technical Advisor to Lake Development Authority Chief Executive Officer.

A Detailed Project Report of all the lakes is to  be prepared and their rejuvenation undertaken in a phased manner. This process will start from North Bengaluru to down South. According to the N K Patil report of 2010, the committee needs to develop 210 lakes. But now this number would have changed. Thus the survey will help. “A plan on how to improve all lakes is also being prepared. Lakes are important because groundwater is depleting and City air is polluted. Lakes are primary source of water and prime lung space,” he added.

The constitution of KLCDA was announced on June 7, 2015, by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. All civic organisations have been brought under this body- Bangalore Development Authority, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, LDA, Minor Irrigation Department, Revenue Department and Forest Department.

It will have regulatory control over all lakes under jurisdiction of municipal corporations of Mangaluru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mysuru, Belagavi, Tumakuru, Davangere, Ballari, Kalaburagi and BBMP.

Headed by the chief secretary, KLCDA will also have the powers to book offenders and penalise them. Encroachers could be penalised for three to five years.