BELAGAVI: Created to ensure orderly growth of Bengaluru, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) has attained the dubious distinction of being the biggest encroacher of lakes in the city, said Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad who headed the committee to identify encroachment of lakes in the city.
About 10,785 acres of lake land have been encroached in and around Bengaluru city, of which 4,533 acres and 16 guntas of land is in Bengaluru Urban district and 6,152 acres and 19 guntas in Bengaluru Rural, Koliwad said speaking to reporters here on Wednesday.
According to the findings of the report the city has 1,547 lakes of which 837 lakes are in Bengaluru Urban district and 710 are in Bengaluru Rural district. Emphasising on stringent action against lake encroachers, he said the committee has not recommended any action against the dwellers who have bought sites or residential plots from government agencies or any private players, taking a soft stand on humanitarian grounds. Almost all government agencies, including the Forest Department, are lake encroachers, with BDA being the biggest land encroacher as it has encroached entire lakes and distributed sites, he said.
The government departments which have encroached lakes have used the land for public utility while private encroachers have constructed commercial complexes, religious places and other constructions. The committee has recommended strict action against encroachers including recovery of land. But it has suggested status quo on houses constructed in lake area so that the poor people who purchased the land here are not affected, he said.
When questioned about the next action by the committee, Koliwad said that his job is over after he submitted the report and it is up to the government to take action. “The report is recommendative in nature,” he said. “But it will be a sort of encyclopedia for everyone who wants information on the lakes of Bengaluru,” he said.