Noticing repeated complaints of construction of artificial islands in lakes, the Karnataka High Court on Friday directed all authorities in the State not to construct such islands in any lake in the city without prior permission from the court.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar issued the directions during the hearing on PIL petitions related to maintenance of lakes after it was pointed out that islands were being constructed in Bagalakunte lake.
Meanwhile, the CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), which is undertaking a scientific study of the city’s lakes following directions of the court, in its interim report submitted to the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on the 19 lakes that have disappeared has pointed out that only two — Arehalli and Tavarekere — have water from seasonal rains.
The BBMP in June had submitted to the court a list of 19 lakes that had disappeared due to loss of characteristics of a lake due to diversion of lake area for various public purposes and encroachments by private organisations.
“The water in these two lakes can be sustained by adopting developmental activities as rain is the main source of water. For other lakes, a detailed suggestion/recommendation will be given in the draft report to be submitted to the BBMP,” it has been stated in the report submitted by Shaik Basha, scientist and head, CSIR-NEERI’s zonal centre, Hyderabad.
Tavarekere lake has a total area of 10 acres and 16 guntas of which nine acres and 15 guntas are being used as a park. Water samples from the lake were taken and subjected to tests, the report said. “Water quality is satisfactory, and the remaining area can be properly developed and necessary measures can be taken up to preserve the lake characteristics,” the report said based on the result of the tests.
Six acres of Arehalli lake, which is spread over seven acres, is encroached by a Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) layout, the report stated.
The report stated that Kamakshipalya lake is spread over six acres of which three acres is encroached by slums, which may be removed so that the entire area can be developed as a water body.
Anche Ramana Kere in West zone and Belakahalli lake in Bommanahalli zone are almost encroached. The former is reduced to 14 guntas and the latter to 36 guntas, which can be developed as tree parks.
After perusing the report, the bench directed the BBMP to act quickly on restoring the two lakes as suggested by the NEERI and to come out with a deadline to clear encroachments.
