Buffer zone violations in Kaikondrahalli Lake

The city’s Kaikondrahalli Lake is in a bad shape. An inspection by civic agencies and a citizen’s group has found dead fish and change in water colour - telltale signs of the lake being choked with sewage.

MAPSAS (Mahadevapura Parisara Samrakshane Mattu Abhivrudhi Samiti) had filed a case on buffer zone violations (30 metres around the lake) at Kaikondrahalli lake with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) a month ago.

The NGT had directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and
Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) officials to inspect and file a detailed report on the buffer zone violations.

As directed, an inspection was conducted by MAPSAS representatives and the civic agencies last week.

During the inspection, various buffer zone violations comprising raw sewage entry at various points, illegal waste dumping, garbage burning, unauthorised constructions, compacting soil and dumping of construction waste were noticed.

“The kalyani waste that has not cleared by the BBMP zonal office since September 2018, despite multiple follow-ups from MAPSAS and lakes department, also made for a sore sight. Due to the entry of sewage from the last few days from the south-west side of the lake, many fish were found dead at the lake,” said a MAPSAS representative. The teams also found encroachments.

“During the inspection, various residential and commercial constructions were found abutting the lake boundary in complete violation of the NGT buffer zone rules. Construction was in progress at one place during the inspection,” she added.

KSPCB officials have instructed the BBMP zonal officials to clear and restore the buffer zone to prevent any further damage to the lake. The inspection report needs to be submitted before the court by April 9.

“The KSPCB chairman has called for a meeting on Wednesday. We will discuss the action plan,” said Manoj Kumar, KSPCB member secretary.