Panel on lakes to submit interim report weeks later

It may take a few more weeks for the K B Koliwad Committee, constituted to inquire into the encroachment of lakes in and around Bengaluru, to submit its interim report.
The panel is waiting for the completion of an ongoing survey of lakes in the City before finalising its recommendations.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Monday, Congress MLA and Committee chairman Koliwad said the panel planned to submit a comprehensive report by taking all aspects into consideration. He indicated that it may take three to four more weeks for the panel to submit its report.

Public outcry
Faced with a public outcry, the State government had recently decided to halt the demolition of houses on lakebeds in BDA layouts till it gets a report from the Koliwad Committee.

He said the Revenue department was surveying all lakes in Bengaluru with maps of 1965 as the benchmark and additional surveyors had been deployed to expedite the work.
Stringent actionKoliwad said the interest of innocent people, who have been cheated into purchasing sites on lakebeds, would be protected. Stringent action would be recommended against land grabbers and officials who deceived people, he said.

He said responsibilities would be fixed on civic agencies such as the BDA, BWSSB and Karnataka Pollution Control Board on lake conservation and protection.

Panel member H D Kumaraswamy said balance would have been chalked out on development and saving lakes.

He pointed out that as per the award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, only 8.5 tmc ft of Cauvery water could be utilised for Bengaluru.

“However, the City was already drawing around 15 tmc ft of Cauvery water. If we do not conserve lakes and surface water, the future of Bengaluru will be at stake,” he said.