Lake conservation: Govt to seek people's views

The go­v­­ernment will provide for greater people’s participati­on in protection of lakes and incorporate their suggestions while drafting rules for Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority, Forest Minister Ramanath Rai said on Wednesday.

Rai made the announcement while participating in a discussion in the Legislative Council on the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority Bill-2014, which provides for protecting lakes and removing lake encroachments in urban areas.

He was responding to suggestions from members that the Authority – which has powers for exercising regulatory control over 293 lakes within the jurisdiction of 11 municipal corporations in the State, including the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike – should have conservation experts and representatives from the local population. The Authority in its present form had more officials, the members said.

Rai said the Bill provided for roping in special invitees on the panel and the government would make provisions for their participation while framing the rules for the legislation.

The Council passed the Bill by a voice vote. Earlier, Leader of the Opposition K S Eshwarappa said no lake conservation can become a success without involving the local population. Every lake should have a separate monitoring committee, Eshwarappa suggested.

R K Siddaramanna (BJP) said the government should provide special grants for lake rejuvenation that needs to be taken up after clearing encroachments. Basavaraj Horatti (JD-S) said water and electricity connections provided to layouts and buildings that have come up on encroached lakebed should be disconnected.

Once the legislation comes into effect, the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority headed by the chief secretary will be set up and will have the powers, among others, to identify and recover encroached lakebed.

Any person found guilty of encroaching a lakebed is liable for imprisonment for a term of not less than three years, which may be extended to five years.