A bench of Justices Markandeya Katju and Ashok Kumar Ganguly said: “We are overloaded with work. High courts of the states will look into the issue of conservation of water bodies in the country.’’

The apex court directed the Karnataka High Court to resolve the issue pertaining to the transfer of land to the club expeditiously. Karnataka government advocate submitted that the matter was pending before the high court and it was seized of the matter. 

With this order, the apex court referred all the applications from various states pending before it on conservation of water bodies to their respective high courts.

The Karnataka government on Monday had told the Supreme Court that it has leased out 152 acres of land to the Bangalore Turf Club with a condition that 56 acres of the land containing water bodies should be preserved by the authorities.

The state government said shifting of the turf club from its present location to beyond the limits of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike would provide the much-needed lung space to the residents of the city. However, the petitioner has alleged that the present turf club area might be developed into a commercial spot.