Unauthorised constructions within 30 m from lake periphery must be cleared.
The high court on Wednesday upheld the decision of the Lake Development Authority (LDA) regarding the privatisation of four lakes in Hebbal, Nagavara, Vengaiahkere and Agara.
The Environment Support Group (ESG) had filed a PIL seeking quashing of the lease deeds that were executed by LDA in favour of a few companies, and further directing the government to ensure compliance with the law and policies relating to protection and conservation of lakes, tanks and wetland.
Stating that privatisation was not harming the ecology, a division bench headed by Justice K Sreedhar Rao disposed of the PIL.
The high court has observed that issuing directions were necessary for the preservation of lakes. The court added that it was necessary to undertake a survey of lakes and tanks, demarcate boundaries and fence such waterbodies.
It ordered that all unauthorised construction within 30 metres from the periphery of the lakes and tanks should be cleared.
“Removal of silt and scientific de-weeding has to be conducted periodically in addition to stopping the flow of sewage into lakes and tanks in the buffer areas of such bodies,” ordered the court.
It constituted local- and district-level committees across the state in order to improve lakes. With regard to Bangalore, the court constituted a committee headed by the BBMP commissioner and directed them to hold bi-monthly meeting and collect reports regarding management and maintenance of lakes, including the four lakes that have been leased out. The committees must send their reports to LDA, which shall initiate measures for preservation and maintenance of lakes.
The court observed that the panel headed by Justice NK Patil, who inspected the four lakes, said the lakes were in good condition after being privatised. The court directed the managements of the four lakes to not charge an entry fee for children below the age of 12 years. However, the managements can charge a fee for recreational facilities.
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