Guv keen on Bill to check land grabbing

The reports of the A T Ramaswamy Committee and the V Balasubramanian Task Force have recommended such a legislation to curb illegal encroachment of government land and the State Cabinet had recently decided to take the ordinance route to implement the Bill to check land grabbing.

“I have taken a keen interest in protecting the environment and lakes in the City. Bangalore will have no water if these lake encroachments are not cleared. The former additional chief secretary’s report (Balasubramanian) has stated that the City is virtually under siege with no water flowing in. It has to be cleared,” he said.

While terming the situation “grim” and in need of immediate attention, the Governor said: “If the Government wants to pass the Bill as an ordinance, I am ready to approve it as the legislature is not in session.”

Speaking on the sidelines of an event at the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium, Bhardwaj said lakes are one of the prime resources of water for the City and they need to be preserved.

“Cauvery alone cannot meet all the water requirements of the City. In such situations, it is imperative for the government to rise and meet the challenges,” he said.