If Davangere can do it with zeal, why not Bengaluru?
That is the question haunting the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority (KLCDA), which is miffed at the lack of response from Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) on the recently passed Cabinet order to transfer a fourth of the lake cess collected. The smaller town of Davangere, in contrast, has been proactive.
A source in KLCDA said the BDA owed the body ₹65 crore, and despite the August 2016 Cabinet decision, it has not responded to their requests. The Cabinet had directed local planning and urban development authorities in nine cities of the State, including Bengaluru, to part with 25% of the ₹1 lakh per acre collected as lake cess to KLCDA.
“We wanted to use this fund to start work on Bellandur lake. Any lake cess sent to us should be used in the city generated, and with BDA not transferring funds, we cannot take up work in the capital city,” said a source at KLCDA.
The BDA had been in the firing line over their treatment of the lake cess. The CAG in their report noted that BDA had failed to collect ₹33.09 crore as lake cess between 2009 and 2014.
However, P.N. Naik, Engineering Member, BDA, said they had been utilising the revenue generated as lake cess to rejuvenate and maintain 31 lakes under its jurisdiction. “We need not pay KLCDA,” he said.
Others respond
In stark contrast to the apathy from BDA, the response from other municipalities has been positive.
G. Vidya Sagar, Chief Executive Officer of KLCDA, said that Davangere had immediately transferred ₹2.7 crore following the Cabinet ruling, while seven other municipalities had written to KLCDA saying they had sought directions from the Urban Development Department.
“We are awaiting response from the UDD on this. The money handed by Davangere will be used based on the action plan submitted by the authorities there,” he said. Since KLDCA’s inception in July 2002, the body remained largely toothless. However, the passing of the Karnataka Lake Development and Conservation Authority Bill, 2014 was expected to induce fresh strength, including giving it powers to penalise polluters as well as government officials found to be negligent, and order for the removal of encroachments.
