BENGALURU: Though many citizens groups are willing to take up the responsibility of maintaining lakes in their vicinity, lack of support from civic agencies has become a major stumbling block. The Puttenahalli Neighbourhood Lake Improvement Trust (PNLIT) is a classic example of this apathy.
The members of the trust have been running from pillar to post pointing out encroachment by choultry that has come up recently near Puttenahalli lake, but to no avail.
Prasanna K V from PNLIT said, “The choultry came up some time in October last year. It is situated near the lake and is merely 75 metres away (buffer zone) and has encroached on the entrance of the lake as well.
“We have approached all the authorities concerned. We have given petitions to the Koliwad commission and Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority chief with survey numbers, village maps, but in vain. They saw the pictures and documents and stated that the choultry have clearly encroached on the lake land. But the officials maintained they have to do a resurvey to confirm this. It has been many months now, but nobody has come for a survey.”
An official from Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority said, “The new rule of 75-metre buffer zone is still not implemented throughout the city. Hence, there are no restrictions on the choultry in the conduct its business.”
A resident of Puttenahalli pointed out, “It is a huge choultry. It looks like it is owned by some very influential person. High-profile marriages take place here.”