The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : HC admits petition on privatisation of lakes

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 13, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

HC admits petition on privatisation of lakes

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The Karnataka High Court on Monday admitted a public interest litigation (PIL) petition on the proposed move by the Lake Development Authority (LDA) in handing over two of Bangalore’s water bodies —Lakes Hebbal and Agaram to private entrepreneurs.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Cyriac Joseph and Justice Ashok B. Hinchigeri ordered issue of notices to the State Government, LDA and others and adjourned further hearing on the petition.

The petitioner, Rudrappa, and advocate and secretary of Vishwa Adhyatma Vikasa Prathisthana, a non-governmental organisation, had filed the PIL questioning the action of the State and its agencies in not maintaining the 81 tanks in Bangalore metropolitan area.

Agreement

The petitioner said that while some of the tanks and water bodies in and around Bangalore have been encroached upon, others have been allowed to dry up. The recommendations of the N. Lakshma Rau Committee on preserving and protecting the existing water bodies had not been followed.

He said though the LDA was constituted by the Government with the main intention of preserving the lakes, it had recently entered into an agreement with two private companies for maintaining Lake Hebbal and Lake Agaram. Challenging this, Mr. Rudrappa said if the lakes were to be handed over to the private entrepreneurs, the public would not have access to them. Besides, the agreement entered into by the LDA with the private entrepreneurs is illegal and arbitrary.

Pollution threat

He said if commercial buildings were allowed to come up in the vicinity of the lakes, it would cause pollution. Introduction of motor boating and a floating restaurant would cause further damage to the flora and fauna of the lake and lake bed.

The National Lake Conservation Programme, he said, had sanctioned Rs. 51.04 crore for the development of 14 tanks in the State, including Hebbal, Nagawara, Lalbagh, Jaraganahalli, Bellundur and Rangaihnakere in Bangalore. When there is no dearth of funds for the development of water bodies, how could the State have mooted the proposal of privatising the lakes, he asked.

Pay and visit

He said the Nagawara lake is out of bounds for the public unless they pay the private entrepreneur who has been given the right to conduct commercial activity on its tank bed.

He urged the court to pass an interim order restraining the Lake Development Authority and the two private entrepreneurs from commercial exploitation of Hebbal and Agaram. He also urged the court to direct the parties not to dry up the lakes. The court adjourned further hearing on the case.

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