Revenue dept told to survey buffer zones of lakes, drains

House panel on lakes seeks report in a month's time

After the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) order redefining the buffer zones of lakes and Rajakaluves (feeder canals of lakes), MLA K B Koliwad-led House panel on lake encroachment has directed the Revenue department to give a report within a month about the existing structures within the buffer zones of lakes as well as Rajakaluves.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Koliwad said, “The NGT order has extended the buffer zone of lakes and tanks from 30 metres to 75 metres. The tribunal, however, has ordered measuring the Rajakaluves from the edges.

The new guidelines say that the buffer zones of primary Rajakaluves should be 50 metres on the either side of the drains, 35 metres buffer zone for the secondary drains and 25 metres for the tertiary drains.”

Ranebennur MLA said that he has directed the officers to abide by the NGT order in principle.  “The officers have been directed to measure the buffer zones along with the water bodies and submit their report,” said Koliwad, who was accompanied by Rajajinagar MLA S Suresh Kumar and Shanthinagar MLA N A Haris.

He said the NGT has expressed its concern over the encroachment of Rajakaluves and has directed the state government to ensure that buffer zones of the water bodies should be protected.

In this regard, the legislature committee has directed the Revenue department officials to survey the Rajakaluves and submit a report on their encroachment within a month, said Koliwad.

Koliwad said the committee has time till August to submit its report. However, it will not give its recommendations on clearing the encroachment as it is left to the government to take a call on it.

There are as many as 837 lakes in Bengaluru Urban district and 710 in Rural district as per the Revenue records. Thus, the total number of lakes on paper in Bengaluru are 1,547. The total encroachment of lake land is 10,785 acres.The government's contribution is 3,257 acres while the rest of the encroachment is by the private persons, said Koliwad.

In the rural areas, the encroachers are the poor farmers, who have been cultivating the lake land. They have come forward on their own to give up rights over the lake land.