Handing Over Maintenance Of 205 Lakes To Private Parties Must Not Become Tool For Commerical Exploitation: Karnataka High Court Tells State Govt

The Karnataka Government on Tuesday informed the High Court that it has formulated a policy by which the 205 lakes within the limits of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) would be handed over to private parties for maintenance and preservation by issuing tenders.

A division bench of Chief Justice N V Anjaria and Justice K V Aravind orally said “Your policy should not be a tool for commercial exploitation of lakes.”

Further, the court said it would on the next date of hearing July 31, go through the policy proposed and also directed the petitioners to submit their responses/suggestions to the policy by then.

Senior Advocate Jayna Kothari appearing for one of the petitioners Citizens Action Group submitted that “We need some time to respond to the policy because the concern should be that may be in few lakes there are resident groups and watch groups who are very vigilant on the lake, but every lake 205 lakes in Bengaluru cannot be give out, then what is the role of the BBMP.”

Advocate General Shashi Kiran Shetty informed that the new policy takes into consideration the participation of the residents and other organisations. Emphasising the requirement of the policy he said “since the lakes are several in number and it will entail huge expenditure for the corporation, (around Rs 30 crore per year) such a policy is evolved in larger public interest.”

He added that the ownership of the lake will continue to remain with the state and BBMP.

The court adjourned the hearing to July 31 and directed that in the meantime as agreed by BBMP, the work of cleaning lakes, wherever necessary shall continue and lakes should be properly maintained.

The batch of PIL highlighted the issue of encroachment around lakes and stormwater drains releasing water in them and thus polluting them.

Case Title: CITIZENS ACTION GROUP AND State of Karnataka & Others

Case No: WP 38401/2014