illegal layouts sit pretty much on lakes

BBMP Commissioner promises status reports on encroachments every 3 months

A BDA layout, a private layout, even a BBMP community toilet: this is not an ideal residential area, but the status of many encroached lakes in the city. 

The pathetic condition of some lakes was disclosed at the special question session of the BBMP council on Thursday. In all, there are 183 lakes in BBMP limits, of which 132 are live tanks maintained by the Palike. 

Replying to answers given to his questions, JD(S) leader Padmanabh Reddy alleged that BBMP was sleeping over the encroachments. He demanded that the issue be handed over to the CBI if BBMP could not remove the encroachments. "At Banaswadi lake, BDA has encroached to form its layout, a private layout has come up at Kacharakanahalli lake, at Kurubarahalli kere, the Police Housing Board Corporation is building a housing complex, at Soolekere lake, there is a football association, and a BBMP community toilet has come up at Bytagunte lake. The BBMP's environment cell has not bothered to stop the encroachers. In many places, temples have come up. BBMP must hand over any religious building that has come up on the lake bed to the muzrai department, so encroachment in the name of temples will stop," said Padmanabh Reddy. 

In his reply, BBMP commissioner M K Shankarlinge Gowda said a status report on the removal of encroachments would be placed before the council once in three months. "As per high court directions of July 7, 2011, BBMP, BDA, Lake Development Authority and forest department have shared responsibilities in rejuvenating and maintaining lakes in the city. Though it is not the BBMP's duty, we are taking care of lakes. BBMP needs Rs 238 crore for the 132 lakes. The state government has to bear half the cost. I have written to the state government, seeking Rs 119 crore," the commissioner said. He said he would write to BDA, seeking clarifications on Banaswadi lake. 

Speaking about water wastage, ruling party leader B R Nanjundappa said BWSSB supplies 1.75 lakh gallons of water to Yeshwanthpur railway station every day. "This water is used by Railways to wash bogies, while Yeshwanthpur residents suffer from water scarcity," he said. 

MISSING THE STAR SESSION 

When the council met to discuss starred questions for the first time, there was little interest. None of the independent corporators turned up. At 3.20pm, when the council reassembled for the afternoon session, only 26 corporators and six officials were present. 

A NEW SCAM OF RS 483 CRORE? 

The scam tag refuses to go away. Hanumanthanagar corporator K Chandrashekar has sniffed yet another scam — of a fund of Rs 483 crore allegedly used in 2009-10 during administrator’s rule, using 4(G) exemption, for natural calamities. “These works were done about two years ago, but for the same projects, BBMP floated tenders in 2011-12. Does that mean that no work happened?” said Chandrashekar. The commissioner is expected to answer during Friday's meet.