BANGALORE: The state government on Tuesday submitted before the Karnataka High Court that it would remove encroachments around Sarakki Lake within six weeks.
The People’s Campaign for Right to Water and Sarakki Lake Area Improvement Trust had requested the court to direct the government to clear the encroachments and rejuvenate the lake.
They claimed that the lake was being polluted due to discharge of industrial effluents and domestic sewage.
The government had earlier stated that the lake, spread over 87 acres, has been encroached by two acres and officials identified 134 encroaching structures. Bangalore South tahsildar was asked to be present on Tuesday.
The tahsildar appeared before the division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Ashok B Hinchigeri on Monday and sought more time to remove the encroachments and also police protection.
The bench extended the deadline and ordered for police protection during the eviction.
No Bail for Author
The High Court has denied anticipatory bail to Dr K S Narayanacharya, author of a book on the life of sage Valmiki.
Police have registered a case against him for promoting enmity between communities.
Narayanacharya’s advocate contended the Kannada book, Valmiki Yaaru (Who is Valmiki?), had clearly mentioned its sources, and the author had not committed any offence.
The prosecution claimed the book insulted the people of the Nayaka community, who believe Valmiki hails from their ranks.
Writing about the great sage, the author has hurt the faith of the Nayaka community, he said, rejecting the plea for relief from arrest.