DH Impact: Lokayukta takes Kengeri lake suo motu case

The Lokayukta has taken up a suo muto complaint on DH’s report about the plight of the Kengeri Lake. The Lokayukta has directed senior officials to submit a report.

The suo muto complaint has been taken based on the DH report — ‘Kengeri Lake still waits for a second shot of life’. The report highlighted that the lake, covering a massive area of 32 acre 16 guntas, has been polluted due to the spread of weeds, shrubs, bushes, garbage and debris.

Also known as Doddakere, the Kengeri Lake was under the forest department in 2005. In the year 2012, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) handed the maintenance of the lake to the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

“The concept of Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR for short) has been given a statutory recognition and they are mandated to be part of every private and public company as per Section 135 of the Companies Act. The news item indicates that BMRCL has delayed implementation of its
CSR.

The news item also highlights that the delay is on account of stringent conditions imposed on it by the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority. The BDA, within whose jurisdiction the lake in question falls, also appears to have contributed for the delay in the development of the said lake,” Lokayukta Justice P Vishwanath Shetty stated in the order.

The Lokayukta has issued notices to officials of the BWSSB, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority, BDA Commissioner and managing director of BMRCL.

The officials have been directed to submit their comments after examining the issues and to take immediate remedial measures to protect the life and liberty of the people of the area.

The Lokayukta has directed the officials to submit the report in six weeks.