Workshop on how to save the lakes of Bangalore, Bangalore Environment Trust, Bangalore

(Jointly organised by Bangalore Environment Trust and ARGHYAM) On 4 July 2009 at 1430h at the RAMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE According to the Survey and Settlement Records of the Government prepared in early 1930s, there were 937 Lakes, Tanks and waterbodies in the Bangalore Urban district which largely coincides with the 790 km2 area of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The area of the tank-bed of these waterbodies was 26,468 acres. However, due to encroachments, debris and garbage dumping by vested interests, wilful action of Government in breaching tanks and allotting land to various organizations like ISRO, Medical Colleges, Stadiums, etc, and the illegal action of forming sites and allotting them by civic bodies like the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), letting untreated domestic sewage and even industrial effluents into the lakes, breaching of the stormwater drains, the area lost in the tank beds is a conservative 2,500 acres according to a preliminary survey by the Survey and Settlement and the Revenue Department. What was once a scientific system of “cascading of lakes” – water flowing from the lakes at higher levels to lower level lakes and ultimately to the natural drainage and river systems – has now become unrecognizable and an urban eyesore. The consequences of destroying lakes are all too evident: flooding after a 50mm rain, drying up of drinking water sources (till 1972 many of these lakes contained potable water),prevalence of water-borne diseases, ending of the “salubrious climate” of Bangalore, disappearance of sanctuaries for birds and fish, etc. A former Chief Minister of Karnataka used to boast he will make Bangalore the “Singapore of India”. From the number of roads which get water-logged during rains, “ Venice of India” is what Bangalore has turned into. The population of Bangalore has been increasing at a compound rate of 4.9% annually since 1970 (and the vehicle population, especially motorized two-wheelers, at 15%) according to a World Bank Report of 2005. At this rate of growth, by 2018, Bangalore’s present population of 75 lakhs (2008) will increase to 1.15 crore and its vehicle population will increase from its present 35 lakhs to 1.23 crores ( hopfully, the Metro will moderate this rate of growth of vehicles). Even at the modest figure of 150 litres per head per day, Cauvery cannot supply the water then needed by Bangalore. If we want to stave off the looming water shortage, traditional sources such as TG Halli and Hessarghatta have to be revived; borewells will also have to harnessed by arresting the declining ground-water table. The ineffectiveness in protecting Bangalore’s lakes is due to the large number of government departments and statutory bodies having legal jurisdiction over them: (a) Revenue Department, (b) Public Works Dept. (c) Forest Dept. (d) BBMP, (e) BDA (f)BWSSB, (g) Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), (h) Lake Development Authority(LDA), (i) District Magistrate (Deputy Commissioner) (j) Tourism Department. Karnataka was a pioneer in establishing the Lake Development Authority over ten years ago. Its mandate is to protect, preserve and develop lakes. Unfortunately, it has no authority or legal powers to carry out its task. Unlike the other agencies which have a myriad set of tasks to perform, the LDA has only one task but is powerless to perform it. The Workshop will conclude with a Panel discussion in which all those who matter will take part. It is hoped that the Panel will identify concrete steps to be taken such as : (a)commitment by the government not to regularise encroachment of waterbodies and storm-water drains and take effective steps to prevent further encroachment. (b)Government and BDA to desist from utilising partly-dry lakebeds for any purpose whatsoever. (c)Making rainwater harvesting mandatory even for the older buildings. (d)Making it mandatory to install Sewage Treatment Plants in all Apartment Blocks and Office Complexes. (e)Identify the Agency (LDA?) and entrust it with the preparation of a 10 year Master Plan for revival of all lakes in the Bangalore Metropolitan Area and its execution. Technology solutions appropriate for each lake shall be identified. (f)Constitute a high-level Monitoring Committee headed by the Chief Secretary or Additional Chief secretary which shall have, besides officials, prominent environmentalists, birders and representatives of voluntary agencies. This Committee shall meet once a quarter to review the progress.