ISTOCK
Imagine if your school made everyone wear the same-size shoes, no matter how big or small your feet were. Weird, right? That’s how buffer zones worked around Karnataka’s lakes and ponds—every single one got the same 30-metre “no-touch” border, whether it was a tiny pond or a massive lake!
But now, Karnataka has decided to make things fairer—and a lot smarter. Instead of forcing every waterbody to follow the same rule, the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA) has come up with a clever new system. Now, the buffer zone—the protected space around the water—will actually match the size of the lake or pond itself. So, a tiny pond might not need a buffer at all, while a giant lake will still have a wide space around it.
This change didn’t just happen overnight. Local leaders spoke up and pointed out how unfair the old rule was, especially for smaller waterbodies. The KTCDA listened and, after checking what other states were doing, became the first in India to link buffer zones to the real size of lakes and ponds.
The new rules also cover streams, known as nalas. With this new plan, Karnataka is making sure every pond, lake, and stream gets just the right amount of breathing space—no more, no less!
Tiny ponds (up to 5 guntas): No buffer at all!
Small waterbodies (between 5 guntas and 1 acre): 3-metre buffer
Medium lakes (1 to 10 acres): 6-metre buffer
Big lakes (10 to 25 acres): 12-metre buffer
Larger lakes (25 to 100 acres): 24-metre buffer
Giant lakes (over 100 acres): 30-metre buffer
Karnataka is the first state in India to use a scientific, size-based system for deciding buffer zones around waterbodies