Experts ring alarm bells over disappearing lakes

The callousness of government agencies to protect lakes and the helplessness of the citizens in rejuvenating them were the highlights of a discussion on Thursday.

The programme - ‘Disappearing lakes of Karnataka, fixing accountabilities, making amends and improving governance’ - was organised by the People’s Campaign for Right to Water (PCRW) at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU). Ranjan Chatterjee, expert member of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), was present.

Eshwarappa of PCRW said the government’s attitude towards conserving lakes was lackadaisical. Several lake protection bodies were formed, but none succeeded since there was a lack of interest to protect water bodies, he said.

He said, “The connivance is real. A relative of a top politician in Madhya Pradesh has come down to Chamarajanagar. Using his clout, he is dumping truckloads of soil in a lake in an apparent bid to encroach it.

A many who does not know the local language and never had any base here cannot dominate locals without support from local government agencies.”

He cited the example of Ele Mallappa Shetty Lake on Old Madras Road, where 300 acres of lake will become a thing of the past if measures are not initiated now. But the government’s approach is lamentable, he said.

“We filed numerous RTI applications and complaints and approached various government agencies, but the response is that sewage is choking this lake,” said Eshwarappa.

Kshitij Urs of the PCRW too highlighted the poor state of affairs of lakes in the State and lauded the efforts of various citizen-led lake protection committees.

Political will lacking
Dr Sairam Bhat, a visiting professor of NLSIU, lamented that there was a lack of executive and political will to improve lakes in the State. The BBMP and BDA are responsible for the disappearing lakes in Bengaluru as they give permission for construction on the lake bed.
He said that the Karnataka Land Revenue Act, 1961, was very particular that lakes and their water streams must be protected and there was no need for promulgation of new laws. He cited the A T Ramaswamy Committee report on installing sewage treatment plants.

People from different parts of the State drew the attention of the NGT expert member towards the disappearing lakes in their respective districts.
Channappa from Chikkamagaluru said many lakes had vanished in the name of development.

“This development model of benefiting a few has damaged the environment,” said Channappa.

Nagaraj from Chamarajnagar pointed out how a politician from Madhya Pradesh had destroyed a lake on 308 acres in the district by dumping thousands of truckloads of soil in it.