BENGALURU: Lake activists in Bengaluru have raised strong objections to the state cabinet’s approval of the Tank Conservation and Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which proposes reducing buffer zones around lakes to as little as 3 metres, allowing commercial and industrial activity. Activists feared that he move will accelerate encroachments and endanger lake ecosystems.
With less than 5% of wetlands left in the city, activists have called the government’s move extremely irresponsible and dangerous, claiming it is not in the interest of the public but rather serves real estate lobbies. They alleged that the bill is designed to legitimise large-scale encroachments under the guise of development.
Buffer zones are an integral part of wetlands but are being taken for granted, activists argued. They emphasised that the state government cannot override central legislation. “It is absurd that citizens now have to approach the courts to remind the government of this basic constitutional principle,” they said, referring to existing central laws like the wetland rules and NGT rulings.
“We have lost nearly 95% of our original wetlands in Bengaluru. What remains is barely 5%, and now even that is under threat,” said Sandeep Anirudhan, Convenor, Coalition for Water Security and Citizens Agenda for Bengaluru. He added that buffer zones are not separate entities that can be tampered with, as they play a critical role in filtration, flood mitigation, and providing sanctuary for flora and fauna.
Drawing from satellite data, he said, “In 1970, Bengaluru had over 70% green cover and 20-30% wetlands. Today, green cover is down to 2-3%, wetlands are just 4-5%, and concrete has taken over 95% of the city. This kind of destruction is a one-way path to environmental collapse.”
Ram Prasad, co-founder of Friends of Lakes, said, “The government doesn’t have the courage to remove illegal constructions in lake buffer zones. Instead, they are trying to legitimise these encroachments by passing this bill. This is nothing but a pro-builder, real estate-driven move, done at the cost of public safety.”
He accused the government of bypassing court orders that mandate the removal of encroachments. “This is a calculated escape from judicial directions to favour builders. It’s a betrayal of people’s lives and the environment,” he said, adding that there is not a single lake in Bengaluru where the buffer zone has not been encroached upon.
“This amendment is anti-people, anti-environment, and pro-encroachment. It will accelerate urban flooding, worsen the city’s water crisis, and destroy what little biodiversity remains. We urge the government to immediately withdraw this destructive proposal and instead focus on strengthening lake protection norms, penalising encroachers, and rejuvenating existing water bodies,” said activist Jagadish Reddy Nagappa, Varthur and Bellandur Lakes Rejuvenation Initiative Committee member.
Activists also pointed out that some of the recently proposed Brand Bengaluru projects include building roads in lake buffer zones and added that rather than following the law, they’re trying to change it.
They questioned who would take responsibility in the event of future disasters and further asked whose exchequer will pay for public relief when disaster strikes? The responsibility will lie solely with those who brought in this bill.