The High Court of Karnataka on Monday directed the Bruhat Bangalore
Mahanagara Palike, Bangalore Development Authority and other departments to file an affidavit on the plans to restore Sarakki Lake.
Hearing a petition by People’s Campaign for Rights to Water seeking to clear encroachment around the lake, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna directed the authorities to file a report within a week.
Government counsel R Devdas submitted that encroachment of land around the lake is a matter of concern and held the BBMP responsible for it.” BBMP has sanctioned the plan for the building, which it should have rejected, he alleged. BDA counsel stated that the authority will develop the lake after the encroachment is cleared.
The Bench also directed to ensure an officer responsible be present before the Court on the next date of hearing.
The petitioner had moved the Court stating that a large portion of the lake, spread over 83 acres, has been encroached upon by land sharks. Despite repeated requests, revenue officials did not fix its the boundary and the Palike has been choking the water body by dumping debris into it, the petitioner had claimed.