MOODBIDRI: Bad politics, bad bureaucrats and bad builders have made ruined Bengaluru’s water bodies. The Bellandur and Varthur lakes are striking examples of bad management of water bodies,” said Union minister for Environment, Ecology and Climate change Anil Madhav Dave here on Friday. Speaking at the conclusion of the three-day International Lake Conference, he said, “I am deeply concerned and disappointed about the way the Nethravati river and the lakes of Bengaluru are being treated. I will spare no efforts to restore these water bodies to their pristine condition. In the coming days you will see there will be marked developments on these two issues,” the minister asserted.
Illegal constructions, blocking of the natural storm water drain system in Bengaluru have become a bane of the city which has resulted in the lakes being contaminated, he observed. He also declared that he will not allow anybody to exploit the Nethravati river and will initiate a process to study related issues and the Yettinahole project. Making this announcement amid thunderous applause from the audience, the minister said all rivers that have been subjected to change of course, cutting off the main tributaries, will be reviewed by the ministry. Rivers are the lifeline of civilisations and will get adequate protection against exploitation, he assured.
Later speaking to presspersons on the sidelines of the valedictory function, Dave said the National Green Tribunal had already been hearing the case, which he was diligently following. To finetune lake and waterbody management, conservation and the right use of water bodies, the ministry will launch a lake calendar, which will be area/region-specific. “The calendar will have features that will help the state governments take up timely lake and waterbody conservation. The calendar will be in the hands of the state government in January,” he added.