Lake buffer zone Bill: Ashoka accuses Karnataka govt of 'selling lakes to land mafia'

Bengaluru: Leader of the Opposition R Ashoka, on Tuesday, criticised the government for approving a bill that reduces buffer zones around lakes in the state. 

In a post on ‘X’, the BJP leader accused the government of supporting real estate mafia and putting Bengaluru’s environment and future at risk.

Calling the move ‘shocking, but not surprising,’ Ashoka said, “At a time when Bengaluru is suffering from repeated floods, lake encroachments and disappearing green spaces, this amendment is a death warrant for the city’s environment”.

In his Kannada post, he warned that this decision was against public interest and would harm both the people and environment of Bengaluru in the long term.

DKS targeted

Ashoka blamed Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, saying, “None other than DCM Shivakumar, who seems more interested in running a real estate racket than protecting Brand Bengaluru, is responsible”.

He said, “Is this the Congress party’s Brand Bengaluru plan? A city handed over to land sharks and contractors, with no regard for lives, safety or future of its citizens?”

The LoP said, “The people of Bengaluru won’t forgive those who sold out our lakes, our lung spaces and our legacy, all for profit. This is not governance. This is nothing but real estate gangsterism”.

Ashoka said the lakes built by Kempegowda were now being handed over to real estate mafia.

He said the Congress government wanted to change the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority Act–2024, which requires a 30-meter buffer zone around all lakes to protect them from damage and encroachment.

Ashoka warned that this change would affect 172 lakes in BBMP area by reducing their buffer zones to less than 30 meters, increasing the risk of natural disasters. This would be very harmful for Bengaluru’s future, the BJP leader said in his post.

He said despite orders from the Supreme Court, National Green Tribunal and High Court to remove encroachments, many of the encroachments remain.