*& SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC [/ Say? CHANGE MONOGRAPHS Vanishing Lakes: A Study of Bangalore City P Thippaiah Institute for Social and Economic Change Bangalore 2009SOCIALAND ECONOMIC CHANGE MONOGRAPH SERIES Number 17 September 2009 ISBN 81-7791-116-3 Series Editor: DRAJASEKHAR © 2009, Copyright Reserved The Institute for Social and Economic Change Bangalore The Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) is engaged in interdisciplinary research in analytical and applied areas of social sciences, encompassing diverse aspects of change and development. ISEC works with central, state and local governments as well as international agencies by undertaking systematic studies of resource potential, identifying factors influencing growth and examining measures for reducing poverty, The thrust areas of research include state and local economic policies, issues relating to sociological and demographic transition, environmental issues and fiscal, administrative and political decentralization and governance, It pursues fruitful contacts with other institutions and scholars devoted to social science research through collaborative research programmes, seminars, etc. The Social and Economic Change Monograph Series provides an opportunity for ISEC faculty, visting fellows and PhD scholars to disseminate their ideas and research work. Monographs in the series present empirical analyses and generally deal with wider issues of public policy at a sectoral, regional or national level. Publication of this Monograph has been made possible through the generous support of Sir Ratan Tata Deferred Endowment Fund.Kempe Gowda (1510-1591) Founder of Bangalore More than 100 Lakes in and around Bangalore were built by Kempe Gowda and his successorsForeword Rapid urbanisation in many parts of the world including India has posed 2 serious threat to natural resources around urban areas. The demand for land in urban areas increased fast. This was met not only by expansion in the pen-urban areas but also by taking over the breathing spaces in urban localities. These included green lands, parks, water-bodies. The worst victims were the tanks and ponds in and around urban areas as the ownership was easily manoeuvrable. All this resulted in the disappearance of most of urban lakes. The vanishing of lakes has caused loss of irrigated lands, drinking water sources as well as threatened agricultural activities, the fisher folk, greenery, and recreation activities. Even the existing lakes have become unfit as sources of drinking water due to the growth of water hyacinth and other aquatic weeds and encroachments. These have lost flood-absorbing capacity leading to the new phenomenon of ‘urban floods’. The urban floods are playing havoc in the cities due to the loss of natural drainage activities and the low- lying areas, which were earlier under tank irrigation, having come undet various human activities, Human beings and livestock living around these lakes are prone to severe vulnerabilities and disease vectors. The city of Bangalore is no exception to these developments and is even worse when compared with many other cities in the country. In this backdrop, this Monograph is an innovative attempt to present characteristics of lakes, encroachment issues, tejuvenation of Jakes and tank maintenance measures. The consequences of the lost lakes and the encroachments have been discussed in detail which would draw the attention of policy makers to think seriously about these problems and plan sorne measures to overcome them. The final chapter of the Monograph provides policy implications Suggests various measures for the preservation of lakes, particularly for providing drinking water, maintenance of micro climate and ground water rechatge etc. This study comes out of Dr P Thippaiaha’s long-term engagement in the subject and his rich field experience collected through personal visits. Study of tanks has not only been his academic subject, but it is his passion, and this is evident in almost every sentence in the Monograph. I am sure this study will help in formulating effective policies for urban lakes in general and for Bangalore’s lakes in specific, September 2009 RS Deshpande Director, ISECKempe Gowda (1510-1591) Sai ii 3 ae, Founder of Bangalore More than 100 Lakes in and around Bangalore were built by Kempe Gowda and his successorsForeword Rapid urbanisation in many parts of the world including India has posed 2 serious threat to natural resources around urban areas. The demand for land in urban areas increased fast. This was met not only by expansion in the peri-urban areas but also by taking over the breathing spaces in urban localities. These included green lands, parks, water-bodies. The worst victims were the tanks and ponds in and around urban areas as the ownership was easily manoeuvrable, All this resulted in the disappearance of most of urban lakes. The vanishing of lakes has caused loss of irrigated lands, drinking water sources as well as threatened agricultural activities, the fisher folk, greenery, and recreation activities. Even the existing lakes have become unfit as sources of drinking water due to the growth of water hyacinth and other aquatic weeds and encroachments. These have lost flood-absorbing capacity leading to the new phenomenon of ‘urban floods’. The urban floods are playing havoc in the cities due to the loss of natural drainage activities and the low- lying areas, which were earlier under tank irrigation, having come under various human activities. Human beings and livestock living around these lakes are prone to severe vulnerabilities and disease vectors. The city of Bangalore is no exception to these developments and is even worse when compared with many other cities in the country. In this backdrop, this Monograph is an innovative attempt to present characteristics of lakes, encroachment issues, rejuvenation of lakes and tank maintenance measures. The consequences of the lost lakes and the encroachments have been discussed in detail which would draw the attention of policy makers to think seriously about these problems and plan some measures to overcome them. The final chapter of the Monograph provides policy implications suggests various measures for the preservation of lakes, particularly for providing drinking water, maintenance of micro climate and ground water recharge etc. This study comes out of Dr P Thippaiaha’s long-term engagement in the subject and his rich field experience collected through personal visits. Study of tanks has not only been his academic subject, but it is his passion, and this is evident in almost every sentence in the Monograph. I am sure this study will help in formulating effective policies for urban lakes in general and for Bangalore’s lakes in specific. September 2009 R § Deshpande Director, ISECCONTENTS List of Tables i List of Appendices ii List of Appendix Maps ii CuapTerRI [INTRODUCTION 1-3 1.1. Methodology and Data Sources 2 1.2. Organisation of Chapters 3 CuapTer TT Lakes: CHARACTERISTICS AND ENCROACHMENTS 4-15 2.1. Introduction 4 2.2. Characteristics of Lakes/Tanks 4 2.3. Ownership of Lakes 7 24. Encroachments 9 2.5. Complete Encroachments 10 2.6. Partia] Encroachments 12 2.7. Comparison of Urban Tanks/Lakes Encroachment 14 with Rural Tanks 28. Eviction of Encroachments 5 CuapTter [II REJUVENATION OF LAKES/TANKS 16-29 3.1. Introduction 16 3.2. Rejuvenation 16 3.3. Investment on Lake Restoration in the City 18 3.4, Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Policy for 2 Development of Lakes 3.5. Impact of PPP B 3.6. Condition of Lakes in Some Cities in the State 25 and their Rehabilitation 3.7, Reasons for the Failure of Rejuvenation Efforts 26 3.8. Multiple Agencies for Lake Development 26 3.9. Lack of Integrated Approach 27 3.10, Lack of Vigil on Lakes/Tanks 2B 3.11. Garbage Flow into Lakes 28 3.12. By-passing of Court Directions and Laws 2 3.13. Leasing of Lakes by LDA to Private Builders 2 and Hotels 3.14. Corruption 2 Cuapter TV IMPACT OF VANISHED AND EXNCROACHED Lakes 30-41 41. Introduction 30 42. Decline in the Number of Lakes 3% 43. Loss of Irrigated, Water-spread and Catchment Areas 3144. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 4.10. 4.11. 4.12. 4.13. 4.14. 415. 4.16. 417 Human Suffering Loss of Drinking Water Sources Reduction of Storage due to Encroachment and Sedimentation Non-Filling of Lakes Pollution of Water Pollution of Groundwater Presence of High Concentration of Metals in Vegetables Grown Using Polluted Lake Water Health Hazards Disappearance of Birds Flora and Fauna Growth of Water Hyacinth and Its Impact Depletion of Groundwater Flooding of Urban Areas Constructions on Lakes are Vulnerable to Quakes CriarPteR V- PROFILES OF SOME Live AND VANISHED Lakes/TANKS 5.1 $2. Profiles of Live Lakes Profiles of Vanished Lakes Cnarter VI Coxciustons ann Pocicy [Meiications APPENDICES REFERENCES 3B BRR BEYSRRe 2 42-71 Q 6 72-79 80-101 102-107Table 2.1: Table 2.2: Table 2.3: Table 2.4: Table 2.5: Table 2.6: Table 3.1: Table 3.2: Table 3.3: Table 3.4: Table 3.5: Table 4.1: Table 4.2: Table 4.3: Table 4.4: List oF TABLES Number of Lakes/Tanks in Bangalore Urban District Distribution of Lakes/Tanks in Bangalore Urban District and Some Parts of Other Taluks of Bangalore Rural District Characteristics of Lakes/Tanks in Bangalore Urban Agglomeration Ownership of Lakes in Bangalore Status of Tanks/Lakes in Bangalore Estimates of Lake Encroachment in Bangalore Number of Lakes/Tanks Developed by Different Agencies in Bangalore City Grants Released by NLCP and Amount Spent during 2001-2006 in Bangalore City Outlay and Expenditure on Lakes/Tanks Development in Bangalore City Six Cascades of Bangalore Lakes/Tanks Listed for Development Number of Lakes/Tanks Developed by Different Agencies in Other Urban Parts of Kamataka Gross and Net Irrigated Area by Tanks in Karmataka and Bangalore Rural & Urban Districts Sources of Drinking Water in Karnataka Urban Local Bodies (ULBs)-2004 Pollution Loads of Lakes in Bangalore Level of Metal Content Found in Plants Grown under Bellandur Lakes/Tanks wn 10 ll 19 2)Appendix I: Appendix 2: Appendix 3: Appendix 4: Appendix 5: Appendix 6: Map |: Map 2: List OF APPENDICES Usage of Encroached Lakes/ Tanks in Bangalore by Different Agencies Waterspread Area of Lakes/Tanks and Extent of Encroachment in Bangalore Rehabilitated in Bangalore City Under Various Programmes Lakes Already Restored/Being Restored, Improved, Operated and Maintained in Bangalore Urban District Tanks Rehabilitated in Urban Areas of Karnataka Other than Bangalore Six Series of Chain Lakes in Bangalore List of APPENDIX Maps Satellite image of lakes Under Bangalore Metropolitan Region Development Authority (BMRDA) jurisdiction Six Lake Series in Bangalore ¥ S$ SS Be Bs 101CHAPTERI INTRODUCTION Tanks have been built both in rural and urban areas for catering to the multiple needs of the community. In rural areas, the tanks were built to serve the need of irrigation and drinking water, whereas in urban areas, they were built with a view to supporting the fragile eco-system and help recharge groundwater, besides providing surface water for a varicty of uses including natural recreational purposes. Compared to other cities in the state, more tanks and lakes were built in and around Bangalore and that is why it was variously called the City of Lakes, Garden City, Pensioners* Paradise and Air-Conditioned City of South India (Mani 1985:2). In other words, several of these man-made lakes in the city had contributed to the clean and salubrious climate that has been instrumental in attracting many of the public sector undertakings, Information Technology (IT) set-ups and multinational companies (MNCs). Today, many of these lakes/ tanks in and around Bangalore have lost their glory and purposes due to rapid growth of population, urbanisation and other factors. In terms of urbanisation, both Karnataka as a whole and the city of Bangalore have experienced relatively faster growth in India. According to 2001 census, the state stood at fourth in urbanisation (34 per cent) next to Maharashtra (42.43 per cent), Tamil Nadu (44.04 per cent) and Gujarat (37.36 per cent). Similarly, the Bangalore Metropolitan Area also has experienced faster urbanisation in terms of area expansion and population. Its built-up area increased from 130 sq km with 1.2 million population in 1961 to 366 sq km with 29.2 lakh population in 1981 and 439 sq km with 5.8 million in 2001. It was also projected that its built-up area would go up to 812sqkm witha population of 8.8 million by 2015 as per the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP 2005-2015). The area of Bangalore has increased from 439 sq km to 741 sq km, after the creation of Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). The fact of urbanisation is also evident from its position in the country. It was the 16th biggest Metropolis in the country in 1941 and the sixth largest Urban Agglomeration out of 23 Metropolis and Urban Aggtomerations in India in 2001. It is also one of the fastest growing cities in the world. Rapid urbanisation in Bangalore has resulted in the expansion of housing colonies in an unplanned manner. causing damage to the environment. In order to prevent this, a Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP-1984) earmarked 439.28 sq km for con-urban area and 839.72 sq km for greenbelt,2 Dying Lakes of the Garden City accounting for 65 per cent of the CDP area, of which, the lake area constituted about 5 per cent. This CDP was revised in 1995. The purpose of keeping the vast land as greenbelt was to retain agricultural tand and prevent environmental pollution that caused heatth hazards to the residents of Bangalore City. However, over a period of time, both in the con-urban and. greenbelt areas, the built-up area increased in all directions. In the greenbelt area, illegal layouts have been formed. As a result of this, the greenbelt area declined from 839.72 sq km to 682 sq km in 2005 resulting in the disappearance of vast agricultural tracts, tree cover, lakes and tanks. The loss of agricultural lands led to a decline in the net sown area in Bangalore Urban district. The net sown area in Bangalore Urban district was 102,331 ha in 1986-87 and it declined to 85,575 ha in 2000-2001, The lakes/tanks were particularly breached and encroached upon for creating public utilities and construction of houses both in con-urban and greenbelt areas. Along with this, the greedy residents of Bangalore encroached upon Common Property Resources (CPRs) on a large scale, as there was heavy demand for land with spiralling prices in and around Bangalore. However, the tanks saw the worst form of encroachments among the CPRs; even the existing tanks have not been spared. They are being used for dumping urban domestic solid wastes, sewage water and industrial effluents. This led to serious consequences such as water scarcity, pollution of lakes, groundwater depletion, declining agricultural output ete. (These have been discussed in greater detail in Chapter III.} Against this background, this study tries to analyse the various dimensions of urban water bodies or wetlands/ lakes/ tanks in the City. 1,1. Methodology and Data Sources The data available on urban tanks are nebulous as there is no scientific census on lakes and tanks in and around the urban areas, both at the national and state levels. This is true in the case of Bangalore too. In view of this, it is difficult to present a clear and comprehensive picture of lakes in Bangalore. However, we do have limited data available on Bangalore lakes/tanks which enables us to draw some inferences. One can also observe that the situation of lakes in other cities in the state is in no way different from the ones in Bangalore City (A brief note on this is presented in Chapter [IT, Section 3.5). The available secondary data and literature on the tanks (wetlands) have been used for the study. The secondary data have been mainly collected from Minor Irrigation and Forest Departments, Directorate of EconomicsIntroduction 3 and Statistics, Lake Development Authority (LDA) and the various newspaper articles. Discussions were also held with the officials of government bodies, who were custodians of these tanks, and other organisations for ascertaining the exact status of the tanks. Field visits to some of the lakes/tanks were also made for a better understanding of the ground realities of lakes/tanks and their environs. 1,2. Organisation of the Chapters The Monograph has been organised into six chapters. The first chapter gives an introduction to lakes in Bangalore besides covering methodology and data sources for the study. The second chapter provides the characteristics of lakes and the issue of encroachments. The third chapter deals with rejuvenation and maintenance of lakes, reasons for the failure of the rejuvenation programmes and a brief status of lakes in other urban parts of the state. The fourth chapter deals with the impact of lost and encroached lakes. The fifth chapter gives a brief profile of some live and lost lakes. The last chapter touches upon conclusions and pelicy implications.CHAPTERII LAKES: CHARACTERISTICS AND ENCROACHMENTS 2.1. Introduction The city of Bangalore is well-known for its lakes and tanks which take care of the drinking water requirements of the city with an average annual rainfall of 1,100 mm. These lakes have also contributed to its celebrated ambience and its salubrious climate (Rau ef a/ 1986:1). This fact is evident from the study of Bangalore’s landscape by Mathur and Cunha (2006). Today, many of the lakes and tanks in the ‘IT City’ have disappeared and the existing ones are in a highly polluted condition and heavily encroached upon. As a result, the salubrious climate has given way to sultry, stuffy and suffocating climatic conditions with smog, stench and a rise in temperature damaging the environment of the city. According to a report, over the past 50 years, Bangalore’s temperature has risen by at least 1.5 degree both in winter and summer due to disappearance of lakes (Anonymous 2009a). 2.2. Characteristics of Lakes/Tanks There are varying estimates on the number of tanks in Bangalore Metropolitan Area. This is because of the consideration of different boundary limits by agencies and researcher's, such as BBMP area, BDA area, Bangalore Urban Agglomeration, Bangalore Metropolitan Area and Bangalore Metropolitan Regional Authority (1985). Although the study on landscape of Bangalore by Mathur and Cunha (2006), based ona survey of water bodies in 1791 and subsequent surveys, indicates the existence of several tanks in and around Bangalore, this fails to provide the exact area of the city and the number of tanks that existed in the city area. Even the two existing official sources, which provide some data on lakes/tanks in Bangalore Urban district, of which a large part constitutes the Bangalore city, do not help us overcome this limitation. This is because of sharp differences across these sources. As per the Minor Irrigation Census-1986-87 of the Department of Minor Irrigation, there were 608 tanks of all size classes in Bangalore Urban district with a culturable cornmand area of 12,827 ha (having a command area up to 2,000 ha) and gross irrigation potential created of 3,004 ha. But, the data provided by the Directorate of Economics and Statistics show that around 652 tanks existed in the same year in Bangalore Urban district and that they have remained the same to date (see Table 2.1). The difference inLakes: Characteristics and Encroachments 5 the number of tanks between these two sources is 50. Therefore, itis difficult to arrive at any definitive conclusion on the number of lakes/tanks in Bangalore City. Table 2.1: Number of Lakes/Tanks in Bangalore Urban District Area: Hectares Year As Per the Minor Irrigation Department, As Per the Directorate af Economics Government of Karnataka and Statistics, Government of Karnataka Tanks Cuiturabie Gross | Gross Net Tanks Culeurasble Gross 9 Grass Net Command Potential Irrigated Irrigated Command Potential Irrigated rrigated Area Area Area Area 1983 458 NA 11,656" NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 1986-87 608 12.827 13,004 NA NA 652 NA NA 9,604 8,682 1989-90 578 NA 12,018 NA NA 652 NA NA 8.410 6.774 1990-91 578 NA 12.018* NA NA 652 NA NA 6,132 5,923 1993-94 559 NA 11,601 NA NA 652 NA NA 4624 3,602 2005-06 560 NA NA NA NA 652 NA NA 2,549 2,369 Note: 1. *Atchkat areas are for 1983 and 1986-87 and refer to Bangalore South and North and Anckal taluks. which form part of Bangalore Urban District. . Tank figures for (986-87 also include 109 tanks, which are not in use. The figures for 1983. 1989-90 and 1990-1991 relate to these tanks having a command area of 4-2.000 ha. Source: Government of Karnataka, Scason and Annual Crop Reports, DES. Bangalore Government of Kamataka, Minor brigation Census-1986-87 and Minor Irrigation Statistics at a Glance for the respective years, Department of water Resource (Minor Irrigation}, Bangalose. Ve wn In contrast to the above data sources, there is another source, which claims that the city of Bangalore had 261 lakes till 1961 (GoK 2002-2003: 3, GoK, LDA and INEP 2002:5, GoK 2001:4) and their number declined to 81 as per the Lakshman Rau Committee Report (1986), a decline of 35.09 per cent, and waterspread area by 8.66 per cent. According to Lakshman Rau Report, there were 389 lakes/ tanks in Bangalore Metropolitan Area (1,279 sq km), which was under Bangalore Development Authority jurisdiction as per CDP 1984. These lakes accounted for 20.60 per cent of the Bangalore Urban and Rural districts together as per DES and 59.66 per cent of Bangalore Urban district in 1986-87. Out of the 389 lakes, 262 were in the greenbelt area (839.72 sq km) (Table 2.2) and the remaining 127 lakes/tanks were in con-urban area (449 sq km). Out of the 127 tanks in con-urban area, 81 were live tanks and 46 disused tanks. Out of the 81 live tanks, 79 had a waterspread area of 1,079.08 hectares and 38 of the 46 disused lakes had a waterspread area of 346.74 hectares. Altogether, 113 lakes/tanks had a waterspread area of 1,425.82 hectares which worked out to 12.62 hectares per tank as against the state average of 11.98 hectares, and 24 lakes/tanks had an irrigated area of 506.90 hectares which worked out to 2].12 ha per lake/tank as against the state6 Dying Lakes of the Garden City average of 18 ha (Table 2.3). This means the city lakes were bigger in size as compared to rural tanks in the state. The bigger tanks had been built around the city with a view to providing irrigation and drinking water to the growing population of Bangalore City as there were no perennial rivers around the city. Table 2. 2: Distribution of Lakes/Tanks by Bangalore Urban District and Some Parts of Other Taluks of Bangalore Rural District Sl. No. Name of the Taluk No. of Lakes/Tanks 1 Bangalore North 6l 2 Bangalore South 98 3 Anekal “4 4 Hoskote* 3 5 Magadi* 1 6 Nelamangala* 13 7 Devanahalli* 12 Total 262 Note: 1, These lakes/tanks were located in the greenbelt area, having more than 40 ha of command area. 2. * One hobli (Bidaralli) from Hoskote taluk (63 Villages) and one hobli (Tavarekere) from Magadi taluk (51 Villages) were transferred to Bangalore South from Bangalore Rural district. Similarly, one hobli (Dasanapura) from Nelamangala taluk (73 Villages) and one hobli (Jala) from Devanahalli taluk (52 villages) were transferred to Bangalore North taluk, which were part of Bangalore Rural district before the formation of Bangalore Urban District in 1986. The data provided by the Lakshman Rau Committee Report appears to be an under-estimate. Generally, one expects more number of lakes in Urban Agglomeration due to three reasons: a) Expansion of the city leads to tural lakes becoming part of urban lakes; b) Transfer of some villages along with lakes from Bangalore Rural district to Bangalore South and North taluks when these became a part of the newly constituted Bangalore Urban district in 1986; and c) If the tanks were irrigating less than 40 ha, they were also included. However, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellite imageries found more lakes in Bangalore. According to satellite images of the ISRO, coupled with the topo sheet of Survey of India Information, thereLakes: Characteristics and Encroachments 7 are 2,789 tanks/lakes of all size-classes with a water spread area of 18,260.48 ha in BMRDA area of 8.800 sq km (Urban and Rural districts (2,298 tanks), and Malur taluk (491 tanks) of Kolar district jurisdictions (GOK. LDA and INEP 2602: 7 and also see Appendix Map-1). The estimate of ISRO was more than the total number of lakes 2091 (Bangalore urban and Rural districts) as per the Minor Irrigation Department data in 2000-200! and 1888 tanks/lakes as per DES in 2005-2006. According to ISRO, in BDA area was 608 with 4572.73 ha of water spread area which was equal to Minor Irrigation Census data at 608 in 1986-87 (see Table 2.1). Table 2.3: Characteristics of Lakes/Tanks in Bangalore Urban Agglomeration SL. No. Lake Features Number/Area I Live Lakes in conurban area 8] 2 Dis-used lakes in conurban area 46 3 Total lakes in conurban area (1 +2) 127 4 Lakes in Greenbelt area* 262 5 Total lakes (3+4) 389 6 Waterspread area of 113 lakes 1425.82 ha 7 Average Waterspread area 12.62 ha 8 Irrigated area of 24 lakes** 506.90 ha 9 Average irrigated area 21.12 ha Note: *- Information on Waterspread area available, **. Information on Irrigated area Available (See Appendix-l). Source: For S1. No. 1-7, Rau et af 1986, For Sl. No. 8-9, Census of India- 1981, Series- 9, Kamataka State-Bangalore District. With the above differences in the number of lakes existing across sources, it is difficult to make any definitive statement on the number of tanks in Bangalore Agglomeration and the Bangalore Urban District. However, one can broadly agree that Bangalore city had tanks numbering about 400 and Bangalore Urban District about 600 lakes/tanks. 2.3. Ownership of Lakes Prior to 1986, the lakes in the city were under the jurisdiction of nearly 16 departments including defence, Zilla Panchayats and Horticulture, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). In 1986, the Lakshman Rau Committee had identified 8} live and 46 disused lakes in the city and 90 of8 Dying Lakes of the Garden City them had been transferred to forest departments and the rest were owned jointly by the forest and other departments. Table 2.4 presents the ownership of these transferred tanks. lt is clear from the table that the Forest Department alone owned a lion's share and the rest of the tanks were owned jointly or individually by one or more other departments. Table 2.4: Ownership of Lakes in Bangalore SL Name of the Agency Disused Live Total No Lakes/Tanks Lakes/Tanks Lakes/Tanks 1 Forest Department 28 a wD 2 Forest Department and 3 9 12 KSTDC, Bangalore 3 Forest Department and KSTDC - 1 1 and Miner Irrigation Dept. 4 Forest Department and BDA 3 3 6 5 Forest Department and BWSSB, - 4 4 Bangalore 6 Forest Department & BBMP | - ] 7 Already put under some use 8 2 10 by Government 8 BDA 2 - 2 9 BMP 1 : l Total 46 81 127 Note: KSTDC-Kamataka State Tourism Development Corporation Ltd.; BDA- Bangalore Development Authority; BBMP- Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, BWSSB: Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board. Source: Lakshman Rau Committee Report 1986. An efficient network of above mentioned lakes and tanks were built by Kempegowda, who was the founder of Bangalore City in the 15" Century, to provide water for drinking, household uses, agriculture, fisheries and also for religious and cultural purposes during his time, and also to meet the future growth of the city, as there were no major rivers around Bangalore. Apart from this, the tanks had been built with a view to recharge ground water and prevent water logging and flooding. Some of them were Dharmambudhi, (supplied drinking water till 1895) (presently, Kempegowda Bus Stand), Sampangi (presently, Kanteerava Stadium), Siddikatte (presently, City Market), Karanji (presently, Chamarajpet and Gandhi Bazar) (Agarwal and Narain: 1997:206) and Millers tanks (presently, Hospitals, Gurunanak Bhavan, IT Companies, schools and residential buildings). In addition toLakes; Characteristics and Encroachments 9 these, tanks such as Ullalkere, Jaraganahalli-Sarakki, Ulsoor, Madivala, Hebbal, Hennur, Agara and Bellandur were used to provide drinking water to the city in addition to open wells and step ponds (Venkataraman 2000:45). Some of these tanks/lakes look like small water bodies now, because of encroachments. In 1960, the Ulsoor Lake. Shoolay and Pudupachery tanks supplied water to the Bangalore Cantonment area (Agarwal and Narain 1997:207). The Domlur tank was used by the British military for watering artillery horses (presently, BDA Layout). In the course of time, two more big tanks were built in the periphery for supplying water to the Bangaloreans. These tanks were Hesaraghatta and Thippagondanahalli. The Hesaraghatta tank (Catchment area 490 sq.km) was constructed across Arkavthi River in 1894, It was initially used for irigating agricultural land, and later on for supplying drinking water to the city (from 1925). The Thippagondanahalli tank (150 MLD) was constructed across the same river (Arkavathi) in 1933 for supplying drinking water to the city. The Thippagondanahalli tank project was recommended by Sir M Visvesvaraya. Today, the first tank has almost dried up due to the loss of catchment area following diversion of waterways by housing colonies. Further, the prolonged emptiness of the tank has resulted in encroachment. The Thippagondanahalli tank has also not been able to supply the requisite volume of water to the city due to inadequate rains and inflows and loss of catchment area. This trend has led to shortage of drinking water in the city and the water has become an economic commodity. Further, this has led to the emergence of unregulated private bore wel] water markets. However, for the last two decades, the city has been getting its supply of drinking water from the Cauvery Reservoir. Even then the shortage of water in city is extent of 17S5MLD per day. 2.4. Encroachments One of the major reasons for the disappearance of lakes, their storage capacities and shrinkage of their area is encroachment. However, the information on this issue is inadequate to understand its magnitude and impact. Even the existing limited information is not enough to draw any inferences as it differs across the sources. However, one thing is clear that both public as well as private sectors have encroached upon vast tracts of lakes/tanks. The public agencies, in the course of developing public infrastructure of various kinds, have either completely or partially encroached upon tanks/lakes. The magnitude of such encroachment has been presented below.10 Dying Lakes of the Garden City 2.5. Complete Encroachments The government agencies such as Bangalore Development Authority (BDA), Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC), Kamataka Housing Board (K HS), Sports Authority of India (SAI}, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and other government departments have expanded their activities beyond the city limits and Town Municipalities for providing housing, public utilities and infrastructure facilities for the growing population, besides booming Information Technology and its embedded services. In the process of expansion, several! lakes were either destroyed or encroached upon. This is reflected in the decline in the number of lakes. The number of tanks decreased from 262 in 1960 to 81 in the conurban area in 1986 and to 67 in 2006. This meant disappearance of 195 tanks. The surviving 67 are also at different stages of deterioration (see Table 2.5). As stated above, there were 127 lakes in 1986 as per the Lakshman Rau report and the conditions of these tanks today are much worse. This is clear from Table 2.5. Out of 127 lakes, only 67 are visible. Some of these have been partially restored and others are in advanced stages of deterioration. However, the LDA has indicated that only 34 tanks/lakes have been recognised as live out of 81 live tanks (LDA 2003-2004: 1; LDA 2002-2003; GoK 2001:4). Table 2.5: Status of Tanks/Lakes in Bangalore Sl. Current Status No. of No. Lakes ! Dried up and are leased out by the Government 13 2 Sewage water filled and some of them are in 60 advanced stages of deterioration. 3 BDA has breached for forming extensions, creating 28 public utilities and house sites for general public 4 Unauthorised occupation by slums and private parties i} 3 Recognisable as small pool of water (cess pools) 7 due to encroachments 6 Cannot be traced (fully encroached) 4 Total 527 Source: |. Forest Department, Government of Karnataka 2. Chandramouli (2002).Lakes: Characteristics and Enctoachments ae The information available on 90 tanks out of 195 disappeared tanks as on 2006 indicates that they were converted into layouts, complexes, schools, hospitals and bus stands (see Appendix-[). This fact is also clear from a study conducted by the I!Sc. The study indicates that the lakes and their area in the city have been on decline. The number of lakes declined from 51 with 321 ha in 1973 to 17 with 87 ha in 2007 in the city area. Similarly, the lakes declined from 159 with 2003 ha in 1973 to 93 lakes with 918 ha in 2007 in greater Bangalore (Ramachandra & Uttman Kumar 2008). Among the agencies which destroyed the lakes, the City Improvement Trust Board (CITB) later named as BDA, has been found to be the major culprit. While playing its role as a provider of housing facilities and infrastructure to the growing population, it acquired vast tracts of agricultural land including the command, catchment and tank bed areas for forming residential layouts, infrastructure and industries. This is one of the major reasons for the disappearance of lakes. The available information shows that the BDA had destroyed 50 lakes (Mathang 2004). About 28 lakes were destroyed despite several directions from the Lakshman Rau Committee and court orders (see Table 2.5). A few instances are presented here that tell us how the directions have been violated in specific cases. 1. The Lakshman Rau Committee Report, 1986, and several directives from the courts have made it very clear that no lake in Bangalore should be disturbed or breached or encroached upon for the process of urban development. 2. In 1992, the High Court of Karnataka order stayed all human habitation on the lakes. However the BBMP violated this order and tried to build a bund on Byrasandra Lake. (Anonymous 2007a) 3. In 1995, the High Court of Karnataka directed that the government has no power to allot any lake area for any purpose. However, the Revenue the Department allotted 18 acres and 16 guntas of Rachenahalli Lake near Jakkur to Jawarlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JINCAR) near Jakkur in 2003. This was contested by LDA (Anonymous 2005c) 4. A 2006 Supreme Court judgment (No. 1251/2006, Intellectuals Forum vs. the State of Andhra Pradesh) states: “The tank is a community property and the State authorities are trustees to hold and manage such properties for the benefit of the community and they cannot be allowed to commit any act or omission which will infringe on the right of the community and alienate the property to any other person or body” (Swathi Shivanand and Divya Gandhi 2007). But violations of this kind are Tampant.12 Dying Lakes of the Garden City 2.6. Partial Encroachments The story of 262 tanks in the greenbelt area and 60 live lakes in conurban area is no better in recent times, as many of these tanks have been partially encroached upon by government and private individuals for various purposes. However, there is no adequate and reliable information available on this to understand its magnitude. Even the available information does not help us understand its magnitude due to variations across the sources on this aspect (see Table 2.6). From the table, it is evident that the extent of encroachment of waterspread areas of lakes in Bangalore city was between 228.02 acres (92.28ha) and 519 acres (210ha). When looked at the proportion of waterspread area encroached, it was found to be 20.38 per cent. Across the lakes, the encroachment varied between | per cent and 100 per cent of the waterspread area (see Appendix-Il). It is reported that about 500 people had encroached upon certain portions of 50 lakes. On an average, 17 people had encroached upon each lake. The Forest Department had filed cases against several of these encroachers. Table 2.6: Estimates of Lake Encroachment in Bangalore SLNo. Source Extent (Acres) 1 Forest Department (2004) 519.00 2 Deputy Commissioner’s Office, 228.02 Bangalore Urban District (2006) 3 A T Ramaswamy Committee 2179 of encroachment In Report (2006) Bangalore Urban district by 1678 people. Out of these, 48 tanks which are in the Urban Forest division has an encroachment of 313 acres by 553 people. Sources: 1. Forest Department. 2. Mathang (2004). 3. Government of Karnataka, Joint Legislature Committee on Encroachments on Bangalore Urban District- Interim Report- Il, January 2007, p-5 1. in Bangalore Urban District (Anonymous 2006 d). 4. Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Bangalore Urban District.Lakes: Characteristics and Encroachments 13 As stated above, the extent of encroachment has been estimated to be 519 acres (220 ha) of 114 tank beds by the Forest Department. Of this, 50 per cent has been encroached dy public agencies for construction of toads, flyovers, bridges, and pipeline, railway tracks, layouts and for dumping hazardous wastes. Another 50 per cent has been encroached by greedy private builders, slum dwellers, industrial complexes and farmers in adjoining areas. Apart from this, some of the layouts and residential areas close to the lakes encroached upon a portion of the lakes. The remaining portion of these lakes has been simply left in several of these layouts without being maintained for several years. The BDA also has left these alone to fulfil the requirement of 13.27 per cent of the land for lung space (parks, playgrounds and recreational areas) according to CDP 1984 (Rau ef af 1986: 77). Many of these lakes have not been developed as parks and amusement parks as stated in urban planning. In fact, the public agencies and private individuals have been using these lakes for dumping domestic wastes in new layouts. As a result, they are highly polluted and covered by water hyacinth and aquatic weeds. Recently the Joint House Committee of the legislature (constituted to survey land encroachments in and around Bangalore) in its report indicated that 2,179 acres of lake/tank beds have been encroached by 1,678 people in Bangalore Urban District. This constitutes 7.97 per cent of the total encroachment of all kinds of lands, Of this, 313 acres of lakes/tanks by 553 people belong to 48 lakes/tanks in Bangalore city (Bangalore urban division of the Forest Department). The water spread encroachment in the case of 48 lakes/tanks account for 9.26 per cent, which is higher than rural tanks (GOK 2007:51). The average encroachment of lakes account for 6.5 acres in urban areas compared to 3.60 acres in rural areas (GoK 2006-2007:11). The encroachers of Lakes/tanks in Bangalore include religious figures, politicians, bureaucrats and realtors. The unholy nexus between the land grabbers, politicians and bureaucrats is mainly responsible for this. The powerful land grabbers have formed layouts on these encroached lands and sold them to the city residents. They have been permitted by the local authorities without verifying the documents. In many cases, the parties obtained permission of residential buildings by producing false and fabricated documents. Some of the officials have also assisted them in such activities. This clearly indicates that there has been a nexus between the officials, builders and politician’s and government agencies. A few instances presented below would explain the failure on the part of the government in preventing the encroachment.14 Dying Lakes of the Garden City |. The Konenaagrahara lake/tank with 20 acres and 10 guntas is close to the old Airport road. The houses have been built on this take bed illegally. The market value of the lake/lank bed has been estimated at Rs 600 cr. (Anonymous 2007c). 2. The private builder (Sicra Developers) has encroached on the Byrasandra Lake worth Rs 200 cr with the help of bureaucrats and politicians and has mortgaged it to Indian Overseas Bank, Jayanagara, as guarantee, for a loan of Rs 5 crore. When the builder failed to repay the loan, the financial institution auctioned the same property for Rs 7.6 cr {Anonymous 2007c). 3. The Bagamane Developers have started constructing a tech park and also a tennis court on the tank/lake bed area of Kelayinakere lake (Byrasandra) near C, V. Raman Nagar. A public litigation was filed in the Karnataka High Court. The court has stayed these constructions {Anonymous 2007e). 4. A relative of a top police official has encroached about 8000 Saft of lake area of Kaggadasapura (Anonymous 2007f). Similarly, 1 acre 15 guntas of Byrasandra Lake has been encroached by a private part for a Tech Park. The eneroacher is linked to a former chief minister of Karnataka (Anonymous 2007a). 5. In Kaudenahalli, about 32 acres of lake bed area been usurped by a private educational institution. The institution has documents to prove that the land was given to them as a grant, even though the lake is not supposed to be given as a grant. (Anonymous 2007d) 6. In the case of Bellandur Lake, about 13 guntas had been encroached by United Builders and Developers and are now being retrieved (Anonymous (2007d). These encroachments clearly indicate the failure on the part of the government in protecting these lakes. 2.7. Comparison of Urban Tanks/Lakes Encroachment with Rural Tanks The extent of encroachment of urban lakes is about 20.38 per cent of the water spread area. This is higher than some of the rural tanks and also the average of state tanks. The average encroachment in the state stands at 10 per cent of the water-spread area (ANSSIRD 1999:29) with 6.69 per cent (Thippaiah 2006: 14) to 15.86 per cent (Thippaiah 1998:111) in the case of some rural tanks.Lakes: Characteristics and Encroachments 15 2.8. Eviction of Encroachments Eviction of private and public encroachments has been quite often emphasised. But the progress made in this regard is far from satisfactory. The LDA and other agencies have experienced difficulty in evicting the encroachments. More than this, there are no adequate powers given to any single agency to evict the encroachers, In 2002, LDA was created for the protection and development of lakes. The LDA, with the help of the Forest Department under which the ownership of lakes vests, has attempted to identify some encroachments and evict them in association with the Bangalore Metropolitan Task Force (BMTF) and local police. The LDA evicted some encroachments and recovered land to the extent of 423.62 acres. The value of 12 acres of evicted land in one of the tanks, namely, Agaram Tank (Bangalore-Sarjapur road near Hosur-Sarjapur BDA layout) was estimated to be Rs 6 crore (Anonymous 2001). The Forest Department also filed 55 cases against some who were not wiling to vacate the encroached areas. Of these, 40 cases were disposed off in favour of the Forest Department. Besides this, LDA also wrote letters to civic authorities, requesting to give up the encroached lands. However, the agencies failed to act upon these. For instance, the LDA had written letters to the City Municipal Council (CMC), Bommanahalli, for the eviction of encroachers of Puttenahalli and Doddabegur tanks/lakes; but this local body did not act upon this (Kushalappa 2005). The steps taken by the LDA were inadequate and failed to prevent encroachments completely. When the encroachments were on the rise and the LDA failed to notice them, a few Public Interest Litigation (PIL) case were filed against encroachers. On 2) June 2006, a PIL petition was filed in the high court alleging that one of the ex-ministers who belonged to the Varthur constituency and other politically influential people in the area had encroached on public properties including 23 tank-beds in the CMC areas of Mahadevapura and K R Puram (Anonymous 2006c). A T Ramaswamy Committee (Joint House Committee of the Legislature on Land Encroachment in Bangalore) has also revealed that the LDA had failed to prevent the encroachment of lakes; and in this context, it made the observation that LDA was a useless authority. It also blamed another urban planning agency, BMRDA, which had not only violated the law but also given approval for the development on lake beds.CHAPTER Il REJUVENATION OF LAKES/TANKS 3.1. Introduction The tanks were built around some of the towns and cities keeping in mind two major objectives: first, to support agriculture, and secondly, to provide drinking water for the urban population. Many tanks were generally built where the urban settlements did not have a perennial source of water for irrigation and drinking purposes. One such area was Bangalore and its periphery. These tanks were well-maintained by the village and urban communities till the 1960s, This is clear from the total number of tanks/ Jakes, which was 390, that existed in 1985 around Bangalore City. The rapid urbanisation of Bangalore took a toll on several of these tanks compared to other urban areas. The existing ones are also performing the original roles such as providing irrigation and drinking water, enriching ground-water and maintaining micro-climate and host of other roles. It is believed that forgoing these benefits is necessary in view of larger benefits that accrue from urbanisation and infrastructure development. But viewpoints like this were mainly responsible for the destruction of several lakes, besides the absence of serious efforts and initiatives to save the lakes. Instead, they could have saved the lakes for the larger benefits of the urban society and environment. Ignoring this crucial aspect has led to serious consequences, which have been analysed in the later part of this work. In view of all these, it is high time lakes in urban areas were rejuvenated to ensure that they played their original roles. 3.2. Rejuvenation Realising the importance of lakes in terms of providing adequate drinking water, maintaining micro-climate, enhancing ground water levels, aquaculture and tourism, several initiatives have been carried out in recent years to preserve and develop them in a proper manner with financial grants from the Central and state governments and external agencies. As a first step, the Government of Karnataka entrusted 81 live tanks in the con-urban area of Bangalore to the Forest Department in 1988 for protection and development as per the recommendations of the Lakshman Rau Committee Report (1986), The report recommended restoration of 3 live lakes, besides developing 32 tanks into mini forests and covering 46 tanks with waterRejuvenation of Lakes/Tanks 17 sheet and plantations along the water spread area and eviction of encroachers. The Committee also suggested that some of these lakes to be used for agricultural purposes. The Forest Department has undertaken cost-effective measures for conservation and maintenance of these tanks/lakes. Some of these lakes have been restored with state assistance and the participation of the urban community. It has rehabilitated 11 tanks with a water-spread area of 380.04 ha, spending Rs 313.75 lakh. During the restoration period, it also involved other departments such as BBMP, BDA, and BWSSB etc. In the process of restoration, it recovered about 80 acres of lake-beds from encroachers. Under the tree-park scheme funded by the Japan Bank of International Cooperation (JBIC), the Forest Department and Lake Development Authority undertook the Social Forestry Scheme in the foreshore areas of these lakes and they are now being protected by a fence (LDA n.d.:10). The Norwegian financial assistance of Rs 1.5 crore and Rs 3.22 crore and local contribution of Rs 1.2 crore and Rs 3.08 crore were also used for the renovation of Hebbal and Madivala tanks respectively during the years 2002-2003 (GoK, LDA, INEP 2002:24). The Doddabommanahalli Lake was also restored with the Norwegian assistance of Rs 34] lakh. However, the progress made under all these schemes was rather slow than expected. This was due to inadequate resources and the lack of a separate agency for carrying out the restoration of lakes in Bangalore. In order to overcome this problem and rejuvenation of lakes/ tanks in and around Bangalore city, the state government set up an institution called Lake Development Authority (LDA) in 2002 at the instance of the Department of Forest, Environment and Ecology, on the lines of Jala Samavardhane Yojana Sangha (2002) which is facilitating planning and implementing rural tanks rejuvenation with community participation. The LDA is the first of its kind in the country, although 6 such agencies have been established in some urban areas of the country. They are: Bhoj Wetland Authority in Bhopal (MP); Loktak Development Authority (LDA), Manipur: J&K Lakes and Water Development Authority (J&K), Chilka Development Authority (CDA), Orissa; Hyderabad Urban Development Authority, AP; and Jal Vikas Samithi Udaipur, Rajasthan. In the beginning, the jurisdiction of the LDA was confined to the restoration of lakes in the city and later extended to the BMRDA area. From 2003, its jurisdiction was extended to other urban areas in Karnataka (City Municipal Corporations and Municipalities) for the restoration of the lakes. The LDA. in collaboration with other departments. such as Minor Imigation, Forest, Science and Technology, Fisheries and Horticulture, and18 Dying Lakes of the Garden City civic agencies such as BWSSB, BMRDA, BBMP, Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation (K U[DFC), Karnataka State Pollution Contro! Board (KSPCB) and the district administration, has been making efforts to rehabilitate lakes/tanks in urban areas of Kamataka, in general, and in and around Bangalore City, in particular. The LDA has adopted three broad approaches to save the lakes: a) Restoring lakes with the financial grant of the Union Ministry of Ecology and Environment under National Lake Conservation Programme (NLCP) with a state’s share of 30 per cent, which is granted to the Department of Forest. Environment and Ecology and LDA; 6) Inviting private participation in the restoration and maintenance of tanks; and c) Inviting NGOs, residents’ associations, corporate and private sectors in the restoration and maintenance of tanks. Under the first approach, the LDA in coordination with the Forest and other departments has taken several steps to restore some of the tanks, including desiltation and increasing their original storage levels, with a view to improving the status of groundwater and overall ecology of the region, 3.3. Investment on Lake Restoration in the City If we look at the restoration of the lakes under different schemes by different agencics. it is found that so far 46 lakes in the city have been rehabilitated through desilting, bunding and diversion of sewage and fencing with an investment of Rs 7,868.91 lakh (see Table 3.1 and Appendix III). Various agencies and departments have rehabilitated these lakes. A large proportion of these have been restored with grants from the Centrally- sponsored National Lake Conservation Programme (NLCP). The allocation by the NCLP alone for the restoration of 13 Bangalore lakes in the last five years from 2001-2002 to 2005-2006, accounted for Rs 4,734.42 lakh. Year-wise break-up shows that Rs 1,288.30 lakh was allocated in 2001-2002 as against the budget allocations of Rs }.076 lakh for the year 2002-2003, Rs 416 lakh in 2003-2004, Rs 1,249 lakh in 2004-2005 and Rs 704.64 lakh in 2005-2006. As against the total approval of Rs 4,734.42 lakh, a total of Rs 2,718.72 lakh was released accounting for 57.42 per cent. A total expenditure as against the amount released up to 2005-006 was about Rs 2,335.464 lakh, accounting for 85.90 per cent of the total amount released up to this period (Table 3.2).Rejuvenation of Lakes: Sanks 19 Table 3.1: Number of Lakes/Tanks Developed by Different Agencies in Bangalore City Name of the No of Lakes Investment Amount Agency Developed Available Lakes Rs Lakhs BDA 3 3 782.00 BDA/KUIDFC 5 3 757.00 NLCP/LDA/KFD 5 5 2,018.29 KFD 13 il 898.84 LDA 12 2 26.00 HUDCO/INEP 1 1 343.96 BBMP 1 1 300.00 KUIDFC 1 1 500.00 KFD/INEP 2 2 767.82 BBMP/BDA/KFD 1 1 400.00 BBMP/BWSSB 2 2 1,075.00 Total 46 32 7,868.91 Note: LDA- Lake Development Authority, BDA- Bangalore Development Authority, KFD- Karnataka Forest Department, BBMP-Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, BWSSB- Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board, HUDCO- Housing and Urban Development Corporation, K UIDFC- Kamataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation, INEP- Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme, NLCP- National Lake Conservation Programme. The investment made on the restoration of lakes so far is inadequate and is low compared to investment made on lakes in Hyderabad City. Till 2006, 46 lakes had been rehabilitated in Bangalore city, For 32 lakes, the investment figures stood at Rs 78.69 cr which worked out to Rs 1.71 crore per tank (see Table 3.2). This was low as comparcd to per tank restoration of lakes in Hyderabad, which worked out to Rs 9.36 crore per lake. In Hyderabad, 22 major lakes were rehabilitated by the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) with an investment of Rs 206 crore in the first phase of the Five Year Green Hyderabad Environment Programme (GHEP) launched in 2002 with the financial assistance from the Royal Netherlands Embassy. Delhi (HUDA 2004: 44). As indicated eartier, the average investment made on the restoration of each lake/tank was about Rs 1.71 crore, which worked out to Rs 5.78 lakh per hectare of waterspread area of the lake/tank as against the20 Dying Lakes of the Garden City requirement of Rs 6-7 lakh per hectare for larger tanks and Rs 10 lakh per hectare in the case of smaller tanks (GoK, LDA, INEP 2002:30). However, Rs 5.78 lakh per hectare investment in urban areas was even high as compared to the rural tank restoration. In the case of rural tanks, there was a provision of Rs 50,892 per hectare (Civil and Non-Civil Works) in the case of tanks irrigating less than 40 ha (Small Tanks) and Rs 29,152 per hectare in the case of tanks irrigating more than 40 ha (Large Tanks). Table 3.2: Grants Released by NLCP and Amount Spent During 2001-2006 in Bangalore City Rs Lakhs Projects Noof Amount} Amount Amount Releases Amount Spent Initiated Lakes Approved Released Spent as % of as % of Year Approval Releases 2001-02 4 1,288.30 1,050 876.729 81.50 83.50 2002-03 2 1,076.48 628.02 447.635 58.34 71.28 2003-04 2 416.00 391.52 373.82 94.12 95.48 2004-05 3 1,249.00 649.18 637.28 51.98 98.17 2005-06 2 704.64 NA NA NA NA Total 13 4,734.42 2,718.72 2.335.464 57.42 85.90 Source: LDA, Bangalore Against this scenario, if we examine the allocated resources in the plan documents and actual resources received by the LDA under the NCLP from its inception in 1999, there are wide differences in the amount allotted to lake restoration. The grant for restoration of lakes as per the Plan documents has been presented in Table 3.3. Since 1997 to 2007, only Rs 1,239.85 lakh has been allotted, which is very low compared to Rs 4,734 lakh since 2001 to 2005-2006 allotted by NCLP. The actual figures furnished by the LDA for 13 lakes from 2001-2002 to 2005-2006 indicate higher allocations under both plans (see Table 10}. As per this, the allocations for lakes/tank restoration in urban areas was Rs 1,288 lakh in 2001-2002 as against the budget allocations Rs t.076 lakh for the year 2002-2003 and Rs 416 lakh in 2003-2004 and 1,249 lakh in 2005-2006 and Rs 64 lakh in 2005- 2006. Altogether, an amount of Rs 4,734 lakh was allocated from 2001 to 2006. As against the total approval of Rs 4,734 lakh, a total of Rs 2,718.72 lakh was released accounting for 57,42 per cent. A total expenditure as against the amount released up to 2005-006 was about Rs 2,335.464 lakh, which accounted for 85.90 per cent of the total amount released up to this period (Table 3.2).Rejuvenation of Lakes/Tanks 21 Table 3.3; Outlay and Expenditure on Lakes/Tanks Development in Bangalore City Rs lakh Year National Lake Integrated Tank Total Source Conservation Development Programme-2001 Programme in Bangalore City (IDPBC)-2001-2002 Out = Expendi- Out Expendi- Out Expendi- lay ture lay ture lay ture Ninth Plan 350 NA NA NA NA NA _ Ninth Plan 1997-02 (1997-2002, Vol.11:367). Tenth Plan 239.85 NA 25 NA NA NA __ Draft Annual 2002-07 Plan (2003-04 Vol.11:174). 1997-98 100 NA NA NA NA NA Ninth Plan (1997-02, Vol 11-448), 1998-99 100 NA 100 NA NA NA Annual Plan (1998-99: 209). 2001-2002 NA NA 50 NA NA 39.21 Annual Plan (2001 -2002, Vol. 1: 381). 2002-2003 250 NA 5 NA NA NA Draft Tenth Plan (2002- 07) and Annual Plan (2002-2003:- 123). 2003-2004 200* NA NA NA NA NA Draft Annual Plan (2003-04 VAL175). Note: 1, * Both Schemes were merged. 2. NA- Not available 3. Until Ninth Plan, the Centre financed 100 per cent to state under NLCP. Later, it was shared by Centre and state in the ratio of 70 per cent and 30 per cent respectively. 4. Under ITDPBC, it was 100 Per cent from the Centre. In the Eleventh Plan, the LDA has planned to rejuvenate another 60 lakes in the city at the cost of Rs 336 crore and 17 lakes in 14 districts of the state at the cost of Rs 80 crore. The detailed project reports (DPRS) for22 Dying Lakes of the Garden City some of these lakes have been prepared and submitted by the LDA which have been approved by the state government and sent for Union clearance and financial allocations under the NLCP programme (Table 3.4). Table 3.4: Six Caseades of Bangalore Lakes/Tanks Listed for Development Name of Noof Waterspread Amount Per Tank Per Hectare Lake Series Lakes Area Required Rs Lakh Rs Hectares Rs Crore Byramangala 1] 563.07 B 51.19 9,091 Hulimavu 8 404.1 4 50.51 12,499 Madhavara 10 222.96 30 22.30 10,002 Puttenahalli 5 58.35 12 11.67 20,000 Varthur 9 369.35 67 41.04 WAI Ycllamallappa 7 979.54 B 57.62 5,882 Chetty Total 60 2,597.37 336 5.60 12,938 Note: Draft proposals prepared and submitted to the Centre seeking grants under NCLP during | [th Plan. Source. LDA (nd), p-13. 3.4. Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Poticy for Development of Lakes Public-Private Partnership strategy in respect of several projects in the country and the state has proved successful in terms of making make good impact and such investment is more productive and helpful to the society. Based on this experience, the Lake Development Authority started experimenting with this strategy in Bangalore City with a view to overcoming the shortage of funds for maintenance and prevention of encroachments. Similar attempt has also been made in Hyderabad city where Sarasu Sangrankahan Samities (Lake Conservation Societies) have come forward to take care of the lakes. From 2003-2004, the LDA in Bangalore started involving private agencies for the conservation of lakes and tanks in order to stop further degradation, pollution; and it also undertook development, beautification and maintenance of lakes under Develop/Operate/Transfer (DOT) or NON- DOT basis from interested private/public participants, including Registered NGO's, Charitable Trusts/Corporations/Corporate Houses/Business Houses/ Residents’ Associations for a period of 5 to 15 years. Under this strategy, itRejuvenation of Lakes/Tanks 23 initiated two policies, namely, “Expression-of-Interest” (EOI) and “Adopt- A-Lake Scheme”. Under the Expression-of-Interest, 36 tanks were offered to private companies on a Develop-Operate-Transfer (DOT) basis for 15 years to develop the tanks in all respects including beautification. However, the response to it was poor. Only four lakes, namely, Nagavara, Vengaiahnakere, Hebbal and Agara were taken over by private companies (see Appendix IV). These companies were allowed to develop infrastructure and carry out commercial activities such as boating. providing tourist facilities in the tank area up to 5 per cent of the lake area. Under this scheme, the companies, which adopted the lakes, would have to make yearly payment to the LDA as per the lease agreement. The realisations per annum from the leasing out of four lakes were 173.56 lakh. (Nagavara Lake - Rs 40.23 lakh/ per annum, Vengaiahnakere- Rs 15.23 lakh/ PA, Hebbal Lake- Rs 72.10 lakh/PA and Agara Rs 46 lakh/PA) and 1.5 per cent increase on the amount every year for 15 years. However, the maintenance of these lakes by these agencies was far from satisfactory. Even today, we find a lot of water hyacinth covering a large portion of the Hebbal Lake. Under the Adopt-a-Lake scheme, 15 lakes were offered to the private companies and corporations located nearby these lakes. However, only five lakes were adopted by private companies, out of 15 lakes on Non- DOT basis for 5 years. These were: Sheelavanthanakere, Kelaginakere, Mahadevapura Lake, K undalahalli Lake and Chatllkere. Under this scheme, the adopters were required to carry out desiltation, strengthening of bunds, improvement of catchments and fencing of the lakes. They were prohibited from carrying out any commercial activity in these lakes other than allowing public for walking, jogging and carrying out low-key boating by collecting some user's fee for maintenance. The details about these adopted lakes have been presented in Appendix LV. 3.5. Impact of PPP Although the initiation of PPP appears to be sound and useful, it drew wide criticism. First, privatisation has been criticised for taking away the CPRs from the community enjoying these resources. The farmers, fishermen, washer men who have depended extensively on these sources in some of the places in urban areas have lost their rights to earn their livelihood from these resources. Already. the lease holders are not allowing any of the stake holders of common property resources to make use of these. If this continues, the community or the government may find it difficult to use the tank water in case of any unforeseen water crisis in the urban24 Dying Lakes of the Garden City areas. To ease the drinking water supply in city, the BWSSB is planning to utilise the lakes for recycling the water for the use of urbanites. In this kind of situation, it is difficult to take back as the lakes have been leased out for a period of 15 years. Secondly, the LDA which was established for the protection of lakes has been involved in leasing out the lakes on the pretext of inadequate funds and insufficient staff for maintenance. In reality, it is involved in profit making by way of collecting rent from the lease holders. Thirdly, lease holders have started boating, food courts and other fills and are commercially exploiting the lakes. One can find a lot of visitors parking bikes and cars around the lake roads causing traffic inconvenience. Fourth, the builders who adopted the lakes have slowly started encroaching on the lakes/tanks and alse letting out sewage into the lakes. Already, the Byrasandra lake teaseholder, Bagmane Developer, has encroached 1.15 acres of the tank bed for the construction of a road (22 guntas) and Tech Park (33 guntas) (Anonymous 2007a and 2007b). Similar incident has been observed in the case of Mahadevapura Lake. The company which has adopted this lake, instead of protecting it, has started constructing a road on the tank bed. The local Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) petitioned the Karnataka High Court and the court has directed the State government and the Lake Development Authority to take appropriate steps for protecting and preserving the Mahadevapura Lake. The LDA assured the court that it has taken all the necessary steps to protect the lake (Anonymous 2008c). In addition to above, the above PPP initiatives of LDA were not well appreciated by the society. The ecologists criticised the leasing out of lakes to private agencies for commercial activities in and around the tanks. They claimed that this move was against the high court verdict, which had ruled out commercialisation of the tank area. Recently, a Public Interest Litigation case has been filed in High Court of Karnataka, challenging the decision of the LDA in leasing of lakes/tanks to private agencies. This is because the private sector has started exploiting the lakes. The court and the government have taken a serious note of all these developments and have taken a few initiatives to get them back to the government agencies. Hearing a PIL case on November 4, 2008, the high court passed an interim order restraining the Government and private parties from proceeding with any further investment or development of lakes based on the privatisation (PPP) model. Recently, the high court has directed the LDA and the government not to extend the lease agreement after the expiry period of 15 years.Rejuvenation of Lakes/Tanks 25 3.6. Condition of Lakes in Some Cities in the State and their Rehabilitation There are 36,686 tanks in rural and urban areas of the state. However, reliable data on urban tanks and lakes are not available, Rough estimates on urban tanks show that there are about 3,500 lakes (Anonymous 2005b) in urban areas of the state, which had been constructed largely to meet the drinking water needs of the towns concerned (LDA no date: 6). Except this, there is no other information on urban lakes in the state. This limits proper understanding of the status of urban lakes and tanks. However, a few reports on urban lakes/tanks highlight the worsening conditions of tanks/lakes in other urban parts of the state. The Channapatna tank in Hassan town was built in the I 1th century. [t had a water-spread area of over 200 acres and was a source of ground water for over 2,500 open and bore-wells in the vicinity. This tank was recently converted into bus and railway stations. Another five tanks- Hunisekere tank, Beemahalli Kere Gavenahalli Kere and Sathysmangala Kere in the same town - were also converted into residential layouts. In Hubli-Dharwad cities, several lakes have been converted into stadiums, shopping complexes and residential plots. In Kolar, the sewage water has been allowed to flow into the Ammani tank, apart from dumping of urban solid waste. Today, this tank has become useless due to the growth of infected weeds and has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. In Mysore, the famous Doddakere, Jivanrayanakatte and Subbarayana Lake have been converted as exhibition and football ground and park respectively. Doddakere in Tumkur has also choked up for public use and residential purposes (Sawhney et a/ 2004:210). Encroachment of tanks is another problem in many of the towns and cities. In Tumkur town, Chola king Rajendra Chola had built the Ammanikere in 1130 AD. Now, it has been encroached upon to the extent of 508 acres accounting for 60.84 per cent of the waterspread area of the tank (Devaraj 2005). A few lakes in urban areas of the state have been rejuvenated under various programmes. Till today, 14 tanks have been developed. The investment figures available for 12 lakes indicate that an amount of Rs 3670.62 lakh has been spent on these lakes (Table 3,5, and also see Appendix V), The average investment per lake accounts for Rs 305.85 lakh.26 Dying Lakes of the Garden City Table 3.5: Number of Lakes/Tanks Developed by Different Agencies in Other Urban Parts of Karnataka Name of the Agency —_—No of lakes Investment Amount Developed available lakes Rs lakhs ADB/NLCP 4 3 876.6 ADB/NLCP/KUIDFC 1 1 85.61 KUDCEMP 2 2 121 NLCP/LDA 1 1 564 LDA/DC 6 5 2,023.41 Total 14 2 3,670.62 Note: LDA- Lake Development Authority, KUIDFC- Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation, NLCP- National Lake Conservation Programme. KUDCEMP- Karnataka Urban Development and Coastal Environmental Management Project, DC- Deputy Commissioner, ADB- Asian Development Bank. 3.7. Reasons for the Failure of Rejuvenation Efforts Out of nearly 2000 lakes in the 6 cascades of Bangalore and its periphery, 46 lakes have been already rehabilitated with lot of investment. These rehabilitated lakes and amount spent have been shown in Table 3.2 and Appendix III. However, many of the rejuvenated lakes/ tanks do not look like they have been rehabilitated. This is clear from the statement made by the state chief minister on April 25th 2006 while visiting the Sarakki Lake for which Rs 3 crores had been spent (Anonymous 2006 b). Similar is the case with other rehabilitated lakes. The following reasons would explain the sick status of these rejuvenated tanks/lakes. 3.8, Multiple Agencies for Lake Developments The tanks in rural areas are under two agencies. The tanks with an area of less than 40 ha are under the control of Zilla Panchyats and the tanks above 40 ha and up to 200 ha are under the Water resources Department (Minor Irrigation). However in Bangalore city, they are under various departments and agencies such as the Forest, Water Resources (Minor Irrigation), Zilla Pancyats, Tourism and Horticulture and BDA, BBMP and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), City Municipal Councils (CMCs) and all these different agencies are expected to coordinate the rejuvenationRejuvenation of Lakes/Tanks 2? and maintenance works of these lakes and tanks. However, the experience indicates that the multiple agencies approach has failed in all respects in protecting the existing ones. Under multiple agencies, coordination between them was expected on a sustainable basis. However, it has been observed that there was very little coordination between LDA and other bodies. For instance, the LDA had written letters to the City Municipal Council (CMC), Bommanahalli, for the eviction of encroachers of Puttenahalli Lake, Doddabegur tank, but the local body did not act upon this (Kushalappa 2005). Many agencies, rather than working together, blame each other for the sorry state of affairs, triggering a blame game between various civic authorities, For instance, the issue of pollution of the Bellandur Lake was raised at the Lok Adalat organised at Bellandur on | 7th October 2006, by the Bellandur Gram Panchayat. The Lake Development Authority, Kamataka State Pollution Control Board, Bangalore Development Authonty. Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board participated in the meeting. BWSSB representatives accused the BDA and CMCs for indiscriminately issuing construction permits around the lake bed, contributing to the sewage collection, and also blamed revenue department for encroachments (Anonymous (2006f). Another incident which highlights the absence of mutual consent was observed in the case of privatisation of lakes. During hearing of a PIL case by high court on privatisation of lakes, the BWSSB accused that the LDA had not obtained its consent before privatisation of lakes. There is also no co-ordination between different agencies. For instance, the LDA says it is the duty of the State Pollution Control Board to see that the industrial effluents and domestic wastes are not dumped into the water bodies. Similarly, the BWSSB has to prevent the flow of sewage water into the water bodies. But, many a time, the BWSSB has said that it is the duty of the Lake Development Authority to take care of the tanks. In this manner, each of these agencies tries to pass on the buck to the other. 3.9. Lack of Integrated Approach There is also no integrated approach/policy of several bodies with regard to tanks. Noticing this, during the hearing of a PIL case in 1998 relating to water supply to Bellandur, the high Court (Lok Adalat) of Kamataka directed civic authorities to identify all tanks and lakes where sewage waste 1s let out and prepare a comprehensive project for rejuvenation of such water bodies. The tribunal has also asked the BWSSB, BDA, BBMP and other agencies to coordinate in the implementation of the project28 Dying Lakes of the Garden City (Anonymous (2009c). Despite this direction, no such policy has been prepared and implemented. This fact is clear from the highly polluted lakes and heavy encroachments. 3.10. Lack of Vigil on Lakes/Tanks Several agencies have spent crores of rupees on the restoration and beautification of lakes. But most of these lakes are either dead or filled with polluted water due to the absence of strict vigil in terms of preventing all kinds of wastes being dumped. Today, many tanks are filled with all kinds of wastes such as poultry, hospital, households and industries. 3.11. Garbage Flow into Lakes The drainage system and garbage collection in many localities are very poor particularly in revenue layouts. During the rainy season, all these wastes reach the lakes, thereby polluting them. The lenient attitude of the government in preventing the unplanned growth of revenue layouts is responsible for this. 3.12. By-Passing of Court Directions and Laws The rules and court orders prohibit the encroachment of the lakes which are part of the common property resources. The greedy officials and land grabbers manipulate the rules and encroach on the tank properties. Lack of strict rules and regulations in terms of preventing encroachments and punishing the encroachers and officials who helped them by taking bribe are responsible for the rampant encroachment. 3.13. Leasing of Lakes by LDA to Private Builders and Hotels Another glaring mistake by the Lake Development Authority relates to leasing of lakes to private agencies after rejuvenating them under different programmes. This action is defended by the LDA on the grounds that it does not have adequate resources to maintain them in future. The private lease holders have started exploiting these community assets for commercial purposes even without showing any concessions to the people, who were stake holders of the tank in that particular area before. Some of them have also encroached upon the lakes for their buildings and extending tech parks. Many of those who have adopted lakes instead of developing the lakes are using them for releasing their apartment sewage. These lakes are in no way different from many of the non-adopted/ leased out lakes/tanks.Rejuvenation of Lakes/Tanks 29 3.14. Corruption Several builders have got approval of plans for construction of apartments around Jakes by paying bribes to officials and have made sure that the drainage is conveniently open to the nearby lakes.CHAPTERIV IMPACT OF VANISHED AND ENCROACHED LAKES 4.1. Introduction The disappearance and neglect of lakes/tanks in urban areas has triggered a whole spectrum of issues such as reduction in the lifespan of the tanks, water pollution. ground-water depletion, encroachments, health hazards, deprivation of livelihood of fishermen and agriculturists, scarcity of drinking water. All these issues have affected the society and the environment in several ways. Here we attempt to analyse the impact of this process. 4.2. Decline in the Number of Lakes It is a well-known fact that several lakes in the city have disappeared as a result of rapid urbanisation. But the available data on lakes in Bangalore Rural and Urban districts show that there was no considerable decline in the number of tanks and the irrigation potential created. In 1989-90, there were 576 lakes in Bangalore Urban district and they declined to 559 in 1993-94 as per the Minor Irrigation Department records. But there was no considerable decline in the gross irrigation potential created during these periods, whereas the Directorate of Economics and Statistics (DES) data show that 682 tanks have remained the same since 1986-87 to date (see Table-2,1)}. But the net irrigated area declined from 8,682 ha in 1986-87 to 2,640 ha in 2003-2004. However, Deepa, Ramachandra and Kiran (1996) of the Indian Institute of Science have shown that there were 379 tanks in two taluks of Bangalore Urban district in 1973. Of these, [38 were located in the north and 241 in the south taluk. These came down to 96 in the north (506.87 sq km) taluk and 150 in the south (594.96 sq km) taluk in 1996, a decline of 35.09 per cent between 1973 and 1996 (cited in GoK 2001:8). A recent study by IISc shows that the area of the tanks that was 2,342 ha in 1973 came down to 918 ha in 2007 with a decline of 60.80 per cent. The proportion of tank area in Bangalore also came down from 3.40 per cent in 1973 to 1.47 per cent in 2007. The above studies attribute rapid urbanisation as the prime reason for the loss of tank area. The comparison of 1930 Survey Department maps and 2005 satellite maps of ISRO also show that £5 to 20 per cent of tank-bed land has been encroached upon (Deepa Kurup and Divya Gandhi 2008). However, the decline shown by the above study does not indicate actual decline because the study by Deepa, Ramachandra andImpact of Vanished and Encroached Lakes 31 Kiran (1996) might have considered all classes of tanks in 1973. which amounted to 379 tanks, But, in subsequent years, it might have considered only the lakes which had a command area of above 40 ha which totaled to 246 tanks. This observation is valid if we look at the data of DES on lakes. According to DES data. the total number of tanks remained the same at 315 in both north and south taluks and 562 in Bangalore Urban district right from 1986 to 2002. The recent data with LDA, supplied by the Minor Irrigation Department, also shows that there were 118 tanks in Bangalore north taluk, 197 in south taluk and 244 in Anckal taluk, altogether a total of 589 tanks in Bangalore Urban district in 1993-94 and 560 in 2000-2001. The above trends have not shown any definite dectine in the number of lakes and urigation potential created. Further, they go against the commonly held view that the urbanisation of Bangalore caused disappearance of many tanks and irrigation potential created. Irrespective of the differing estimates, one thing is clear that many tanks and their irrigated area have disappeared in and around Bangalore (see Appendix I). 4.3. Loss of Irrigated, Water-spread and Catchment Areas The immediate impact of disappearance/ and deterioration of lakes is the loss of irrigated area. However, data on this aspect are not readily available to assess the impact. However, one can roughly estimate the shrinkage of irrigated area based on the Minor Irrigation Department data of the state as a whole. As per the latest data, there are 36,686 tanks in the state with a water-spread area of about 4,38,963 ha and a command area of 6,90,000 hectares, which work out to 18.82 ha of irrigated area per tank and an average water-spread area of 1] ha. If we go by this norm, the disappearance of 195 tanks in Bangalore caused the loss of irrigated area of about 2,540 ha and water-spread area of about 1,485 ha. Altematively, the loss of irrigated area of 24 tanks listed by the Lakshman Rau Committee Report and as per the Census 198] accounts for 506.90 ha, which amounts to 21.12 ha per tank. If we apply this norm, the loss of irrigated area of all 195 tanks works out to 4,461.60 ha. Overall. the loss of irrigated and water- spread area per lake in the city is ] 8.82 ha to 22.88 ha and 11 ha to 12.92 ha respectively. In addition to this, water-spread area of the existing tanks located in the periphery of Bangalore also led to lower water storages, causing decline in the net irrigated area and net sown area, leading to a sharp decline in the agricultural output. If we look at the same fact in another way, the decline in imigated area in Bangalore Urban district is even higher than the state average. As32 Dying Lakes of the Garden City per the DES data, the net irrigated area by tanks in Bangalore Urban district declined from 8,004 ha in the tricnnium ending 1988-89 to 2,319 ha in the triennium ending 2004-2005 (Table 4.1), The corresponding proportion of the tank irrigated in the total net irrigated area from al! sources in the urban district also declined from 47.97 per cent to 18.25 per cent during the same period, This was due to breaching and encroachment of several lakes/tanks. The disappearance of the lakes in the city also led to the loss of catchment area. In Bangalore, the loss of independent and intercepted catchment was 869.70 sq km and 1,209 sq km respectively. This estimate is obtained based on the average catchment area of tanks in rural areas which worked gut to 11.18 sq km (Thippaiah 1998:79), Table 4.1 Gross and Net Irrigated Area by Tanks in Karnataka and Bangalore Rural & Urban Districts Area: Hectares Year Karnataka Bangalore Rural —_ Bangalore Bangalore & Urban Districts Rural District. Urban District Gross Net Gross Net Grass Net Gross Net 1988-89TE 3.27424 2.80465 35,007 28613 25,849 20610 9.158 8004 2004-05 TE 1,86,087 1,68,,591 18,282 16,803 15,796 14248 2486 2,319 Note: TE-Triennium ending Source: Directorate of Economics and Statistics, Government of Karnataka, Bangalore 4.4. Human Suffering The loss of irrigated area and the resultant decline in production are directly related to the conversion of lakes into non-agricultural purposes, But the generation of wealth for the urban society is many times higher than the loss of production. But the farmers who had lost these lands are living in miserable conditions. No doubt many of the farmers, who had owned land under these lakes/tanks in the command and catchments. were paid compensation at the time of acquisition, but that compensation neither provided a permanent solution to the loss of their land nor assured a good future to their children. More than this, 95 per cent of the farmers who had owned land under these tanks were small and marginal farmers growing sugarcane, paddy and vegetables with assured income. The acquisition of their land has put them in miserable conditions today. This fact is evident from the recently conducted study by the Institute for Social and EconomicImpact of Vanished and Encroached Lakes 33 Change (ISEC), Bangalore, in Kembathahalli village in Bangalore South taluk, where the farmers had lost theirs land for the formation of Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) sites. According to this study. a large part of the compensation they received was spent on unproductive purposes. Further, they lost their agricultural skills and livestock. The agricultural machinery and implements became redundant. In addition to this, their housing conditions have not improved as expected. They are still living in their old houses. Many of them now depend on urban unorganised secter for employment after losing a decent livelihood from agriculture (Ramaswamy 2006). The same would have happened to those who had lost tank-irrigated lands around Bangalore. 4.5. Loss of Drinking Water Sources Tanks were almost supplying 1/3 of the total demand of the city. This source completely disappeared as a result of the destruction of tanks (GoK 2002-2003:3). The existing ones are also largely encroached upon and have lost not only their water-holding capacity but also potable water. The recharging capacity of lakes has also been reduced due to non-filling and loss of water-spread area and storages. This situation has forced the civic bodies to shift from tank source to alternative sources for supplementing drinking water, though at a high cost. Today, the city of Bangalore is getting water from the river Cauvey which is 140 km away at an enormous price. According to BWSSB, the total cost of producing and supplying 2,47,382 million liters of water during 2001 was Rs 5.722 million, which worked out to Rs 23.13 per liter as against Rs $.98 in 1991 (Sastry 2004). This cost per litre is exorbitant when compared to many metros in the country. Much of this has been accounted for power cost. It is stated that the power bill comes to about Rs 21 crore per month. The other cities in Karnataka, which were, in the past, dependent on tanks for drinking water, are now mostly relying on other sources of water, paying a heavy price. From Table 4.2, itis clear that only 2.40 per cent of the urban areas depend on tank water for drinking purposes and another 4.81 per cent depended on this source along with other sources (see Table 4.2).34 Dying Lakes of the Garden City Table 4.2: Sources of Drinking Water in Karnataka Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) 2004 Source No. of ULBs _% to Total Bore wells (BW) 40 19.23 Tank 5 2.40 Open wells + Bore wells (OW &BW) 6 2.88 Open well ! 0.48 BW+tank 5 2.40 River 2 53.85 BWtriver 34 16.35 Tank+river 4 1.02 BWHanktriver 1 0.48 Total 208* 100 Note: *- Local Bodies fall under the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board Source: Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board. Cited by S$ Puttaswamaiah (2004:59). 4.6. Reduction of Storage Due to Encroachment and Sedimentation The lakes have become dumping grounds for all kinds of waste materials - both solid and liquid. Industries, hospitals, poultries, contractors. individual households and the BBMP dump their wastes into the lake beds. This has led to water pollution and silt formation in the lakes affecting the water-holding capacity of these tanks. The sedimentation has also reduced the water impounding capacity of the lakes. The loss of water-holding capacity due to siltatiion/sedimentation has been estimated to be more in urban areas (Nayak 2004: 44) as compared to 23-30 per cent in the case of rural tanks (ANSSIRD 1999:1). The loss of water depth and shallowness has Jed to drying up of tanks due to evaporation, leading to depletion of ground water levels. The ground water, which could be tapped earlier in the city at 80-90 feet, has gone down to 400-500 feet (LDA n.d: 6). The growth of water hyacinth and consumption of water by these weeds have also reduced the water-holding capacity of several lakes in the city. The encroachment of tank bed areas by land mafia in the adjoining areas too has significantly contributed to the low storage levels.Impact of Vanished and Encroached Lakes 35 4.7. Non-Filling of Lakes The complete disappearance of independent and intercepted catchments of lakes, encroachments of drainages and the loss of connectivity between the tanks due to breaching and diversion of waterways in the residential layouts have led to non- filling of tanks in Bangalore and its penphery for so many years, even in normal rainfall years. In 2005, the city experienced 1,200 mms of rain, but several lakes in the city were not filled due to inlet problem (Anonymous 2005a). This ts also evident from low water levels in 60 lakes in the city in 2005 as per the Lake Development Authority. Several lakes in the peripheral areas of the city have also not been filled for several years due to catchment problems. The Hoskote tank, which is close to the city, is a fine example in this context. 4.8. Pollution of Water In the heart of the city and extensions, the encroachment of tanks by individuals and public agencies has made the tanks not only very small but also reduced the storage levels. These encroached bodies have been used by public and private agenctes for easy dumping of urban solid wastes, debris, domestic sewage, industrial effluents and immersion of Ganesha Idols. This has contributed to the deteriorating water quality, making it unfit for human consumption. Many studies on the quality of lake water in the city have found that water in the lakes contains high levels of phosphate, sulphate, calcium and alkalies which make the water very hard. The presence of high metal toxity in the lake water prevents the farmers from using it for irrigation. The polluted water of these tanks also pollutes other water bodies due to the chain of tanks system. A study conducted by the Kamataka Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on 70 lakes shows that they are highly polluted. According to this study, 31 lakes/ tanks in Bangalore were being used for dumping domestic sewage, 5 for both domestic and industrial sewage and 32 for solid waste (Narayan 2005). All these have made the tanks highly polluted, with bactenal count and dissolved solids twice the permitted levels, and even the dissolved oxygen levels are several times lees than the benchmarks. This is also clear from the testing of water from || lakes by LDA in coordination with KSPCB between January 2003 and March 2003. According to this study. the water inall the 11 lakes was found to be highly polluted and the content of dissolved oxygen, very low. In many of these lakes, the oxygen levels were found to be below the desired level of 4 mg/1, indicating organic pollution (see Table 4.3). The BWSSB has established plants in the major valleys for treating36 Dying Lakes of the Garden City sewage water before letting into lakes which are not functioning well. The treatment plant built at Challaghatta valley to treat sewage water before letting into Bellandur Lake is hardly treating 20 MLD per day as against the inflow of 384 MLD per day. Besides this, a private firm, managing this unit, is operating the unit only for a few hours in a day in order to save electricity cost. Like in Bangalore, the sewage has been allowed into the lakes in other urban parts of Kamataka. In Dharwad and Hubli cities, the sewage is allowed into Sadhanakere and Unkal lakes respectively. Similarly, the lakes in Rajasthan, Srinagar (Dal Lake), Bhopal, Hyderabad, Naintal and other cities in India and the Laguna Bay in Philippines (HUDA 2004) are also facing the problem of sewage inflow. It is estimated that 6 million litres of sewage and 25 tonnes of solid waste every day have turned the lakes into cesspools in Rajasthan. Table 4.3: Pollution Loads of Lakes in Bangalore SLNo. Name of the Lake PH DO Mg/L_ BOD Mg/L I Benniganahalli Lake 8.19.0 44-84 13.6-150.0 2 Deepanjali Lake 75-76 2.8-4.4 13-15 3 Jaraganahalli Lake 7O1-8.2 1.2-10.0 40-130 4 Karithimmanahalli Lake 74-80 Nill 235-260 5 Kempambudhi Lake 7.2-8.0 Nil 80-190 6 Madivala Lake 7.5-8.4 0.5-6.4 6.9-37.0 7 Nagavare Lake 7.5-7.7 0-05 16-125 8 Nayandahalli Lake 7.2-8.0 0-8.1 80-180 9 Sankey Tank 8.4-8.5 64-69 6.0-9.3 10° Yengaihankere Lake 9,6-9.8 4.6-8.1 17,5-75.0 i Yediyur Lake 75-8.0 2,8-12.7 130-360 Note: DO = Dissolved Oxygen (Normal Level: more than 4ppm). BOD = Biological Oxygen Demand (Normal Level: 3ppm) |.Figures listed above indicate minimum - maximum levels. 2. Water samples were collected from different points in the lake. 3. The samples were taken between January 2003 and March 2003. Source: GoK (2002-2003). 4.9. Pollution of Groundwater Indiscriminate discharge of domestic sewage and industrial effluents into lakes not only pollutes the lakes but also contaminates water, which in turn percolates to aquifers, thereby creating a breeding ground for pathogenicImpact of Vanished and Encroached Lakes 37 organism. This is also causing alarming rise in nitrate and phosphate levels in the groundwaters of Bangalore. We have also come across similar findings from Hyderabad City (HUDA 2004:45). A study of 750 bore-wells in Bangalore City by Shtvashanker and Reddy (1985) found 5! per cent of the bore-wells unfit for human consumption due to presence of nitrate and 25 per cent fit for consumption and the rest fit for consumption in the absence of a better alternative source of water. 4.10. Presence of High Concentration of Metals in Vegetables Grown Using Polluted lake Water The pollution of lakes due to sewage, sludge and industrial effluents is a common phenomenon in urban areas. These pollutants contain high concentration of heavy metals like copper, zink, nickel, lead, chromium etc. However, the levels are quite high in the case of major lakes when compared to smaller lakes in Bangalore City. Byrasandra, Bellandur and Varthur lakes fall in this category, The lead content in Bellandur Lake is 1,590 times more than the permissible limits and the mercury levels are 200 times high. Similarly, the nitrate level in Varthur tank is six times more than the normal level. Because of the presence of these metals, the LDA has declared the water of these lakes not suitable for growing of crops and has forbidden the consumption of any vegetables grown using the water of these lakes (see Table 4.4). Table 4.4: Level of Metal Content Found in Plants Grown under Bellandur Lakes/Tanks Metal (mg/Kg Dry Weight) Produce Zinc Lead Nitrate Chromium Lady’s Finger 78 35 13 2 PL 35.9 40 0.7 ND UP Brinzal 13 26 71 2 PL 39.0 2.5 07 ND UP Tomato 166 29 22 21 PL 309 15 0.5 0.2 UP Sugarcane 25 i 9.0 7.0 PL 3.4 ND ND ND UP Maize cob 81 20 22 ND PL 23.4 ND 1.0 ND UP Note: ND-Not detected, PL-Polluted Land, UP-Un-polluted Land. Source: Kumar (2006: 1-2).38 Dying Lakes of the Garden City 4.11. Health Hazards The tanks around the city have not only contributed to the salubrious climate but also prevented many diseases in the past. They have now become highly polluted and a breeding ground for mosquitoes, which spreads malaria. The contaminated water of these lakes is also causing many diseases such as Jaundice, Cholera, skin diseases, breathing problems and other serious health hazards in the immediate environs. The percolation of this water into the ground has caused high nitrate presence in the groundwater. Drinking this water may also lead to the Blue Baby syndrome. 4.12. Disappearance of Birds As a result of virtual disappearance of lakes coupled with poor maintenance of existing ones, a large number of bird species have disappeared. This is evident from the Bird watcher's observations and a study by the LDA. Omithologists have expressed concem over the dwindling bird diversity in the city in recent years as compared to the 1970's. Some of the major reasons attributed relate to the disappearance of lakes/tanks, flattened vatleys and shrinkage of shoreline due to encroachment, cementing of shores and growth of water hyacinth. The shrinkage of shoreline has hindered the breeding of insects and smal! amphibians on which shore birds such as Sand Plovers and Sandpipers survive. The population of other birds, dependent on lakes, such as Purple Moorhen, Weaverbirds, Brahmani Kite, Dabchicks and Coots have also come down significantly (Ramani and Shivanand 2006: 4). The LDA, in its study on Uttarahalli Moggakere Lake (Kalasipalya lake), has indicated that the pollution of lakes and their poor maintenance have led to the disappearance of several birds listed in the area earlier including Kingfisher, Waterfowl, Paddy Bird, Egret, migratory Siberian Cranes and Bar Headed Geese. Many of these have been declared as endangered species. 4.13. Flora and Fauna A variety of rich fauna and flora around the lakes have contributed to the salubrious climate in the city. But. the loss of tanks and water-spread areas has affected the flora and fauna of the tanks in a significant way. The flora such as typha, Lily, algai, tape grass feters are rarely to be seen at present. Apart from this, the low storage levels coupled with highly polluted water have affected the lifecycles of fauna such as freshwater turtles, frogs, crabs and several other species in different ways. The fish varietiesImpact of Vanished and Encroached Lakes 39 such as Govankar, Rahu, Mrugal and Kamankar have disappeared with the shrinkage of lake/tanks coupled with polluted water. The polluted water becomes eutrophic with reduced oxygen content, hindering the growth of several species and disturbs the eco-balance. Fish deaths have also been reported in the city lakes such as Puttenahalli, Vengaiahanakere, Ulsoor, Lalbagh, Hebbal, Mahadevapura and K R Puram due to a considerable fall in dissolved oxygen (DO) levels, increase in aquatic weeds and algae because of sewage let into tanks, resulting in asphyxiation. The fish death in Puttenahlli lake stood at five tonnes in mid-June 2004, two tonnes in Vengaiahnakere Lake in May 2005 and 3.5 tonnes in Ulsoor Lake in may 2004. 4.14. Growth of Water Hyacinth and Its Impact Water hyacinth and aquatic weeds have covered several lakes in the city. This is evident from Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) study by Rinku Verma ef a/. According to KSPCB, 30 lakes have been covered with weeds, out of the 70 lakes studied by KSPCB for various purposes (Narayan: 2005). Rinku and others (2003), who have also studied changes in water hyacinth coverage of water-bodies in northem parts of Bangalore by using Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS) LISS-II and III images of different years (1888-2001), have concluded that the area under water hyacinth has increased compared to previous years due to pollutants being let into the lakes. These weeds hamper the penetration of sunlight, which is essential for fish growth, besides hampering fish harvesting. These weeds are also driving away birds like water fow] and kingfisher, which mostly thrive on fish. 4.15. Depletion of Groundwater Many cities have experienced scarcity of drinking water in recent years due to inadequate water sources. In order to overcome this problem, groundwater is tapped by drilling several bore wells. The bore wells, over a period of time, have started drying up on account of over exploitation and disappearance of water bodies in and around the urban areas, including Bangalore. According ta BWSSB sources, there were 5,850 public bore wells with 56.63 MLD/per day and 75,000 private bore wells in Bangalore (Puttaswamaiah 2004-61) for supplementing the total requirement of 956 MLD. Despite this, there was a shortage of 175 MLD per day in the city in 2001 (Sastry 2004). Similarly, in the city of Hyderabad, the deficit was 590 MLD per day. (HUDA 2004:45). These shortages were largely met by40 Dying Lakes of the Garden City private sector bore wells through exploitation of groundwater and traded as an economic commodity, leading to the emergence of unregulated private water market causing depletion of groundwater in Bangalore and elsewhere. As per the Hydro-Geological Atlas of Karnataka, published by the Central Groundwater Board, the Government of India in 1994, Bangalore North, South and Anekal taluks, comprising of Bangalore Urban district, were found to be grey areas due to overexploitation (Cited in Gok, LDA,INEP 2002: 10, Venkataraman 2000:54, and Puttaswamaiah 2004:61 ). The situation is much worse at present because more than 5 lakh bore-wells extract groundwater, causing further depletion of groundwater resources. Shivashankar and Reddy (1985) corroborate with the findings ofa study on Evaluation of Groundwater Quality of Bangalore (cited in GoK: 2001-6). This study points out that the depth at which the groundwater could be tapped risen to 256-300 feet from 35-40 feet in the past 20 years (Shivashankar and Reddy 1985 - cited in GoK: 2001:6). Similar finding came from Hyderabad City. A monitoring of 22 sites (wells) in this city has revealed that 17 of those recorded a steep fall in the water level (HUDA 2004:45), Reduction of water bodies and high rate of retrieval more than the discharge have been attributed as the major reason for this situation. 4.16. Flooding of Urban Areas The average height of Bangalore in terms of topography is 850 to 930 mts. Water flows from these heights (from normal and heavy rains) and is harvested by a chain of tanks. In other words, the tanks have been built in a hierarchical system to arrest rainwater (small to big) in such a way that the overflow of one tank reaches into the other tank in the downstream without flooding and causing loss of property and life. In the city, there are 6 major lake chains/series (see Table 3.4 Chapter-HI and Appendix Map-2 and Appendix-VI). Each of these series has 3 to 17 lakes and the surpluses of several of these lakes reach to four valleys in Bangalore. Hebbal and Koramangala valleys finally meet at North and South Pennar Rivers in Tamil Nadu and Chaltaghatta and Vrishabhavathi valleys join the Cauvery near Kanakapura. Despite this system, devastating floods occur in the city damaging property and endangering life. One can remember the rains in October 2005, which not only flooded the areas along with Rajakaluves (main rivers and rivulets), but also flooded houses and several layouts. The areas that bore the brunt of deluge were Puttenahalli, Doddabegur, Jarganahalli, Nagavara and Doddenahalli, Hosur road, Bommanahalli, K R Puram, HSImpact of Vanished and Encroached Lakes 41 R Layout, Byatarayanapura, Kengeri, Hebbal, J P Nagar, Agara, Koramangala, Jayanagar and Jalahalli. Lakes like Nayandahalli, Chunchanghatta and Rampur tank near Ramamurthynagar were also breached during this period due to poor maintenance and not restoring their full storage capacities. Further, the floods caused loss of property, infrastructure and human lives, as the runoff did not reach the water bodies. The loss of property on account of October 2005 floods was estimated to be at Rs 500 crore in Bangalore Urban District and Rs 70 crore in the city limits. Many prominent people, including the then chief minister, deputy chief minister and many bureaucrats blamed the encroachment of tanks and its beds as the major reason for massive loss of public and private property and human causality in the October 2005 deluge. Many experts have also attributed encroachment of lakes, valleys, blocking of major drainages without adequate provision for rain water as the major culprits for floods from a meager 86.9 mm of rains in a day. 4.17. Constructions on Lakes are Vulnerable to Quakes The encroached lakebeds, rivers and drainages have been used not only for infrastructure development but also for the construction of residential and official buildings through heavy investment. It is said that the structures on these lakes do not withstand tremors. This factor has recently emerged from a study by Civil Engineering Department, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore. The study has indicated that the structures built on the city water- bodies are vulnerable to potential quakes as compared to other buildings (Anonymous 2006¢e:4).CHAPTER V PROFILES OF SOME LIVE AND VANISHED LAKES/TANKS 5.1. Profiles of Live Lakes 1. Rachenahalli Lake — om: Photo: Author (2009) Much of the Rachenahalli Lake is covered by water hyacinth; the waterfowls are seen resting on a submerged building. The vast Rachenahaili Lake is located near Jakkur and Arkavathi BDA layout. It caters to the irrigation needs of Rachenahalli, Dasarahalli and Jakkur and comes under the Irrigation Department. The exact area of the tank is not available. According to Byatarayanapura City Municipal Corporation officials, the tank area is about 50 acres. However, the farmers/ residents claim that the total area is | 0Qacres. Whereas the LDA data indicate that the water-spread area of the lake is 60 ha. One can see heavy encroachment from all sides of the lake. The Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (INCASR) has encroached upon some portion of the lake. Even though the LDA had issued notice to the JINCASR for stopping construction work, it had gone ahead with the work and completed it as the land was allotted by the government (Anonymous 2005). A study on “Economic valuation of wetlands’, by T V Ramachandra, R Rajinikanth and V G Ranjini (2003) reveals that the tank had supported agricultural activities, provided fish and helped in the maintenance of livestock in surrounding villages. The educational institutions and private people haveProfile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes/Tanks 43 now heavily encroached upon it. It has a good water source, attracting many migratory birds. If maintained properly, it can store a lot of water and can also be promoted as a tourist spot. Now, the lake is full but polluted. Some portion of the lake has been covered by the water hyacinth. One can notice some waterfowls in the lake. The flow of sewage into the tank is visible from the main road towards JNCASR. The BDA plans to develop the lake. 2. Kengeri Lake Photo Author (2009) The Kengeri Lake, developed by the Lake Development Authority (LDA), has polluted water and its surroundings are dirty. The Kengeri Lake is near Kengeri Satellite Town on the way to Bangalore-Mysore Road. The lake has been developed by the Lake Development Authority. [t has been fenced and planted with the flower- yielding plants along the fence. Boating facilities are also available here. However, the tank is filled with polluted water and aquatic weeds. The surroundings are not properly maintained. 3. Gangasetty Kere (Konasandra) The Gangasetty Lake was earlier irrigating the Konasandra and Gangasetty villages. Itis located in the 10th Block of Banasankan 6th Stage. BDA Layout (close to Kengeri and Nandi Infrastructure Corndor Enterpnses Road (NICE Road). The BDA planned to develop it comprehensively at the cost of Rs $.47 crore. At present, it is full of debris and Ipomea Carnia44 Dying Lakes of the Garden City Jacq (weed plant). Some villagers are still fishing in the lake. Encroachment has taken place on a large scale. On the encroached lands stand coconut trees. Some people belonging to Gangasettyhalli have built houses on the encroached lands. rae Photo: Author (2009) The Gangasetty Lake is highly polluted and the entire tank area is covered by the weed Ipomea Carnea Jacq (Ganesha Kaddi). 4. Hebbal Lake Phota: Author (2009) A portion of the Hebbal Lake was encroached upon for construction of food-stails and entertainment purposes.Profile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes/Tanks 45 This is a Jarge tank, located in the north of Bangalore adjoining the Hebbal flyover along the junction of Bellary Road (National Highway 7) and the Outer Ring Road (ORR). This lake was built by Kempegowda in 1537. The waterspread area of this lake is 65.4 ha and the command area is 178 ha. The catchment area of the lake was found to be 3,750 ha. The Storage was estimated at 2.38 meft in 2000. Although this tank has been rejuvenated several times, the lake water continues to be dirty. The Forest Department has succeeded in raising the tree cover in the middle of the lake and around it. The lake also provides shelter for several migratory birds. Water hyacinth has been removed many times; still some patches of the weed cover the lake. This tank got comprehensively desilted, restored and rehabilitated with grants from the Norwegian Goverment under Indo- Norwegian Environment Project (INEP) and National Lake Conservation Programme at the cost of Rs 2.41 crore in 2003. During this period, two artificial islands were created using the soil from the desilting. Whatever the developments, the lake does not seem to be in good condition. The tank was leased out to a private company (East India Hotels Ltd.. Oberoi Group of Hotels) on May 19, 2006. This company has taken up several development activities around the lake such as desiltation and fencing etc. This company is also involved in commercial activities by creating a variety of entertaining facilities. However, this activity received wide criticism and resulted in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The Karnataka High Court, which heard the case, has opposed the leasing out of lakes and directed the LDA and the government not to renew the lease after the expiry. It also ordered that the lakes, which are common property resources, cannot be leased out for any commercial purposes. In fact, the Lakshaman Rau Committee Report 1986 has recommended that the lake to be developed as a regional park. The Hebbal Lake was a beautiful sight during the rainy season in 2008 as the Spot Pelicans made it their new home. The passersby on the fly-over near the lake used to enjoy this sight. Recently, the lease holder has dredged the lake bed and the dredged material has been piled on the foreshore area of the lake to extend the land margin. This has not only reduced the storage capacity but also damaged the shoreline vegetation which is crucial for wildlife. A pond has also been constructed in this portion. A few huts have also come up on this filled land. Fencing has been dong around the entire lake by the lease holder. The lake deserves rehabilitation in all respects as it is on the way to the Bangalore International Air Pert. It should be ensured that foreign tourists do not go back with mixed memories of the lake.46 Dying Lakes of the Garden City Photo: K Murali Kumar A view of the Hebbal Lake after the lease holder filled some portion of it. Now a few huts have been constructed on this filled land. Source: Divya Gandhi (2008a) Photo: K Bhagya Prakash A view of birds in the Hubbal Lake in 2005. Source: Anonymous (2005). Wetlands too Have Economic Value, The Hindu, Friday, November 2004.Profile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes/Tanks 47 Beet Sreenivasa Murthy A flooded house at Badrappu Layout near Bangalore's Hebbal Lake on August 28, 2008. Source: Rain: Five Tanks on the Outskirts of Bangalore Overflow, The Hindu, Friday, August 29, 2008 5. Ullat Lake Photo: Author (2009) Buildings and NICE Road abutting the Ullal Luke.48 Dying Lakes of the Garden City This lake is located near Visvesvaraya BDA Layout, close to the Ullal Residency. The NICE Road passes near its foreshore area. It is a medium tank and is almost dry and covered by thick jungle growth all over. The community facilities such as community hall, club house and other facilities of the Ullal Residency are located close to the lake. The Ullal Residency community could have adopted this lake. Unfortunately, no efforts were made to develop the lake. The BDA is planning to develop this tank with funds from Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM). Already a detailed project report (DPR) has been prepared, Works such as removal of weeds, desilting the lake-bed, construction of inlet and outlet channels, waste weir, increasing the top width and side- slopes of the lake-bed and ring bunds on three sides of the lake, providing chain-link fencing on three sides of the lake to avoid encroachment, construction of size-stone masonry open drains parallel to ring bunds to divert surface water, construction of two boat jetties and supply of pedal boats, providing light-poles, landscaped gardens, footpaths, lakeside restaurant, ornamental lighting, approach roads, provision of alum-dosing stations, fisheries management, and formation of a Lake and Watershed Area Improvement Committee have been planned. 6. Mallathahalli Lake (Bovina Basappana Kere) Phota: Author (2009) Wastes thrown in and around the Mallathalli Lake.Profile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes/Tanks 49 This lake ts situated between Visvesvaraya BDA layout and ITI Layout and is near Bangalore University. The Forest Department has planted bamboo and other trees on the foreshore of the lake, At (he time of the author's visit (in March 2009), the lake was full of water. The water quality is not good and is yellow in colour. However, it caters to the needs of sheep and goats and is used for washing purposes. The foreshore area is being used for dumping all kinds of wastes, reducing the water storage. A house has been built very close to the lake. About five acres of the 27.10 acres of the tank area has been encroached upon. Fishing is also undertaken in the lake. The bund is covered by jungle growth. It is relatively a good tank and can be a beautiful lake, if developed properly. The BDA has planned to develop even this lake under the JNNURM. 7. Nayandahalli Lake Photo: Author (2009) The Nayandahuiti Luke is filly covered by weeds und piustic wastes. The Nayandahatli Lake is adjacent to the Bangalore-Mysore Road. close to Bangalore University and Nayandahalli Railway station and is situated opposite to Rajarajeshwari Temple Arch. It has a water-spread area of 31 acres. The lake has almost disappeared and it has been encroached upon by the Railway Department and the slum dwellers on all sides. The Railways have encroached on about 1.39 acres. The main feeder canal (Rajakaluve) of the lake remains blocked completely. It is heavily silted. There a big slum50 Dying Lakes of the Garden City on the eastern side. The available tank area is almost dry. The available lake is used for dumping all kinds of wastes and debris. Grazing cows and women collecting grass for animals is the only thing in sight (March 2009). It was reported that the Mysore road near the arch gets flooded during the rainy season as the outlet does not find its way to reach the Vrishabhavathi valley because of blocking. It is now proposed to rejuvenate it at the cost of Rs 91.5 lakh; fencing is planned at a cost of Rs 63.9 lakh. aie eo See omy The encroachment of the Nayandahalli Lake and the blocking of the lake s inlets and outlets causes flooding of Mysore Road. The picture shows traffic being hampered on September 2, 2008. Source: Deepa Kurup and Divya Gandhi (2008) 8. Mylasandra Lake (Sunakalpalya) The Mylasandra tank is located on the Uttrarahalli-Kengeri Upanagara Road and is close to JSS Academy of Technical Education. It has 12.20 acres water-spread area. It appears that half of it has been encroached. Some waste has been thrown into the lake. The Forest Department has planted trees in the foreshore area which have grown up now.Profile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes’Tanks 31 Photo: Author (2009) Plantation bv Forest Depariment around the Mylaysundru Lake. Dumping of wastes is visible. 9, Uttarahalli Lake (Dorekere) Photo: Author (2009) Water in the Unarahalli Lake is highly polluted. The entire lake area is covered by water hyacinth.52 Dying Lakes of the Garden City This lake is 200 years old and has a water-spread area of 28 acres. Situated between Kengeri and Uttarahalli Main Road, this tank is fenced from all sides. Some patches of water at shallow depths were available in 2004. Now the entire tank is covered by a four-inch solid layer of sun- baked water hyacinth and garbage. Sewage flows from Kumaraswamy and ISRO layouts and Gowdanapalya. People also dump the poultry waste into the lake. In the middle of the lake, bamboo plantation has been undertaken. It appears that the tank has been heavily encroached. However, the LDA records show only 25 guntas of the lake being encroached upon on the eastern and southern sides. In the foreshore area of the lake, a ground- water recharging device was installed by the ZP of Bangalore under NCCF (drought relief programme) during 2004-2005. This lake will die if proper steps are not taken to prevent pollution of its water by sewage flowing from Kumaraswamy layout, ISRO layout and Gewdanapalya, and the wastes being dumped by slaughter houses. It is said that the resident associations around this lake have complained about the high pollution of the lake and sought necessary steps to prevent it. However, the Lake Development Authority has not taken up any measures as it does not have sufficient resources. The lake is now entrusted to the BBMP, and the civic body intends to invest Rs 71 lakh for its comprehensive development. Photo: Author (2009) Prat) Nie Ae Sole 24 = a e we The Uttarahalli Lake is completely covered by water hyacinth. The adjacent buildings let out sewage into the lake.Profile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes/Tanks 33 The Uttarahalli lake in 2004 had some traces of water The View of the Unarahalli Lake in 2004. Source: Upendra (2008), Once Upon a Time, Deccan Herald, December 09, 2008 10. Shelavanthanakere Photo: Author (2009) The Palm Meadows management, who adopted the Shelavanthanakere, has not been maintaining it properly.54 Dying Lakes of the Garden City It is located on the Whitefield-Nallurahalli Road. Its water-spread area is 18 acres .Around the lake several apartments have come up, Most of these apartments belong to the Palm Meadows Builders. The residents of these apartments formed an association in 2005 to rejuvenate the lake. After adopting the lake from the Lake Development Authority, it has collected an amount of Rs 30 lakh from the residents of Palm Meadows community, under the guidance and initiative of Pragathi Charitable Trust. The lake and its surroundings were cleaned and made into a jogging track. This effort has been well appreciated. However, the lake has become sick of late and useless as the association has not taken care of it on a sustained basis, The lake is now full of weeds. The fence is completely ineffective at five places. The construction workers are using this lake as a toilet. It is impossible to see any water and it is in a pathetic condition. One woman selling cigarettes and chocolates near the Palm Meadows apartments informed us that the Apartments release the sewage into the lake. She gave us the keys to open the door of the fence and see the lake. She reported that only two persons have been employed by the Palm Meadows to maintain a garden around the lake. All the same, the surrounding area is not so clean. A view of the restored lake in 2uus. Source: www.changeindia infoProfile of Seme Live and Vanished Lakes/Tanks 55 11. Bellandur Lake Photo: Author (2009) a _ Large encroachments are seen and wastes of all Kinds are thrown uround the Bellandur Lake. A temple is being constructed near the lake. The tank is situated adjoining to the runway of the old Bangalore airport. It is 130 years old and has a water-spread area of 892 acres. It has catchment area of 148 sq km. The surplus water reaches Pinakini River basin. It has a vast command area of about 18 villages that are depends on the lake for agriculture. The tank was clean in 1942 and people extensively used this lake for various purposes. At present, the water is covered by patches of water hyacinth. The water is dark and opaque in appearance. The tank appears to be heavily encroached. Water in the tank is highly polluted and is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. A seepage treatment plant has been put up for the treatment of sewage water at the entry point. However, the plant capacity is unable to treat the entire sewage. This is against the National River Conservation Plan which states that all lakes and rivers are to be freed of drainage inflow. Efforts were made in the past to clean the tank and prevent pollution. However, things have not improved due to bad implementation, improper management and absence of funds. This fact is clear from a report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) that pointed out irregularities in implementation of the bio-rejuvenation of the lake by the Lake Development Authority. The report stated that Bellandur Lake was no better than it had been before rejuvenation (Vinay Madhav 2008).56 Dying Lakes of the Garden City The history ew gs Bellandur Lake. 1942. Picture Courtesy. HAL Source:A Dossier of Lakes in Bangalore, Department of Forests, Environment & Ecology, LDA and Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme, 2002 12. Yediyur Lake Photo: Author (2009) Ee rT Well-maintained Yedivur Luke. A park is developed around the lake.Profile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes/Tanks 57 This tank is located on Kankapura road at the entrance of the Jayanagar Seventh block. The tank area is 6.45 ha. The Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) under Kere Siri Yojana has developed a park around the lake and introduced boating facilities at the cost of Rs 3.25 crore in 2003-2004, attracting a lot of tourists. To help locals immerse Ganesh idols, a separate area has been built on the lake bed. The lake has been maintained well by the horticulture department and fenced with a gate. A small part of adjoining the lake is also a good jogging point. The water level in the tank was very low at the time of visit (9 March 2009). 13. Bhuvaneswari Lake Photo: Author (2009) aw _ Water is highly polluted in the Bhuvaneswari Lake. Encroachers have built houses very close to the lake. Itis located in Subramanyanagar, Bangalore. It has been encroached from al! sides, The small huts and sheds are built adjacent to water, These houses are likely to submerge during the rainy season. It seems the authorities have not bothered to evict the encroachers. There is a board with a warning that cleaning vehicles either in the lake or near the lake would attract a fine of Rs 5,000. The bund is used as a road. The tank is full of water. Waterfowls were seen at the time of visit. Even today, the people around the lake use it for conducting various religious ceremonies. A Bhuvaneshwari temple has been built on the foreshore area of the lake.58 Dying Lakes of the Garden City Photo: Author (2009) This lake is used for rituals and pujas during religious and social festivals. 14, Puttenahalli Lake , Phote: Author {20 The builders and cevelopers around the keke are puiluting the water bud).Profile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes/Tanks 59 Phat: Author (2009) Coverage of Water Hyacinth unfit for aquatic life. This lake/tank is located in Jarganahalli close to JP Nagar. Earlier, this lake was under Bommanahalli CMC. The Jarganahalli/Sarakki and the Puttenahalli lakes are close to each other. The area of the tank is 32 ha. The condition of both the lakes is very bad. The entire arca is highly polluted and the water is covered by hyacinth. Large-scale encroachments in and around Puttenahalli Lake, indiscriminate dumping of garbage and diversion of sewage into the lake are also visible. In 2004-2005. the LDA spent Rs 4 crore for the development of the lake. As part of the programme, the Forest Department had planted saplings in the foreshore area. The survival rate is very poor. The surrounding area is filled with all kinds of waste, majority being plastics and poultry waste.. The tence around the lake has been damaged. A newly- constnicted apartment has dug a canal in the tank to discharge sewage into the drainage. which is also connected to the lake, for discharging flood water. The tank is heavily encroached. The encroachment of the area is to the extent of 7.13 acres. This has resulted in flooding of the area many times during the rainy season, particularly J P Nayar 6th phase. Due to the pollution of the lake, five tonnes of fish died in mid-June 2004.60 Dying Lakes of the Garden City 15. Agara Lake Photo: Author (2009) Jungle growth is enormous, covering the jogging track Agara Lake is located near HSR Layout, in south-east Bangalore. It is on the Outer Ring Road. [1 is a very big tank, with an area of 142 acres and 29 guntas. The BDA encroached on the lake for building roads. In 2004, the BDA and the Forest Department leveled the land around the lake and planted trees. These trees are grown up now. However, there has been a heavy growth of bushes covering the jogging track. The desilted silt has been deposited in the middle of the tank and bamboo and other plants have been planted to attract birds. The water level in the tank is very low. It is badly maintained after rejuvenation. The water is polluted mainly because of sewage water flows from Koramangala and Madivala and HSR layouts. The fence of the lake is broken in some places. This shows that the Lake Development Authority (LDA) is not taking much interest in maintaining the lake. In 2007 May, the Lake Development Authority (LDA) entered .into an agreement with Hyderabad-based Biota Natural Systems Pvt. Ltd. to lease out the lake to the company for 15 years. The company is planning to invest Rs 13 crore for lake development and is paying Rs 46.80 lakh per annum to LDA as lease amount. The company also plans to introduce variety of entertainment activities in and around the lake and generate minimum revenue levels of Rs 10 to 12 lakh per month. The development of lake is yet to be carried out by the lease holder. Meanwhile, the initiation of lease has been strongly opposed by the public.Profile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes/Tanks él Photo: K Murali Kumar AN Members of the Agara Lake Walkers’ Association, along with volunteers from other NGOs, are seen protesting againt the privatisation of lakes on June 23, 2008. Source: Anonymous, The Hindu, Jun 24, 2008. 16. Iblur Lake Photo: Author (2009) ae Plastics and wastes are thrown into the lbtur Lake.62 Dying Lakes of the Garden City The Iblur Lake is on the Outer Ring Road, near Sarjapur Road (South of Bangalore). The lake is surrounded by apartments. It has 9.63 ha of water-spread area. An island has been built in the middle of the lake out of silt and some plants have been planted here to attract birds. Fishing is undertaken in the lake. Contamination of water resulted in massive fish deaths in 2008. The fence around the tank has been cut down at several places and plastics have been dumped on the fringes of the lake. On February 21, 2009, the Bellandur Iblur Residents Welfare Association (BIRWA) along with several NGOs, residents of nearby areas, citizen groups and schools, organised a cleanup drive in the area surrounding the lake. Plastics and parthenium plants were also cleared during the drive. However, one-time activity like this is not enough to solve the problems of lakes. 17, Varthur Lake Photo: Author (2009) Water in the Varthur Lake is highly contaminated. Weeds have covered most part of the lake. Some horticultural and mursery crops are being raised around the lake using the lake water. It is said that this tank was constructed by the Ganga rulers about 1,000 years ago. It is situated in the south taluk of Bangalore district. It is close to Whitefield road. Its water-spread area is 180.40 Hectares. It is highly polluted due to direct discharge of city sewage into the lake. Heavy encroachment is alse noticeable. Debris is thrown into the lake which has patches of water hyacinth. Highly polluted water is being used for raisingProfile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes’Tanks 63 nurseries, flower and horticultural crops. Even today, the Varthur village and surrounding villagers are using the tank water for paddy and vegetable crops. Several IT companies are located around the lake. When we visited the flower-growing areas using the water, a thick layer of algae was found in the field canals. 18, Benniganahalli Lake Phota: Author (2009) “neg The lake is covered by water hyacinth and filled with sewage water. The Benniganahalli Lake is located near Pai Layout close to the Krishnarajapura flyover. It is highly polluted and covered by water hyacinth, It has been developed by Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) at a cost of Rs 1.78 crore. On June 4, 2007, various schools, college students, IT professionals and the general public cleaned the lake. This type of voluntary participation 1s needed to rescue our lakes. 19, Vengaiahnakere The Vengaiahnakere is close to the Krishnarajapura on the way te Kolar. This tank was developed and leased out for 15 year to the Park Ltd. A children’s park and restaurant have come up on the foreshore area. Boating facilities are also available. The entry fee per person is Rs 30 and Rs 50 is charged for taking photos. [t has been fenced and maintained well. Under National Lake Conservation Programme, this tank was developed at the cast of Rs 2.21 crore. As a result of heavy pollution of the water. two tonnes of fish died in Vengaiahnakere Lake in May 2005.64 Dying Lakes of the Garden City Photo: Author (2009) The lake was leased out and it is now well-maintained. lt has been fenced and a water treatment plant purifies the water 20. Nagavara Lake Photo: Author (2009) Food-stalls and entertainment spots are located close to the lake,Profile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes/Tanks 65 This lake is located near Nagavara village, downstream Hebbal Lake on the Outer Ring Road. This is a big tank, with a water-spread area of 43.88 ha. Under the Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme, this lake was developed at a cost of Rs 7.67 crore. On April 29, 2005, the lake was leased out to a private organisation (Lumbini Gardens Private Ltd) for maintaining. This organisation ts offering boating rides besides a variety of entertainment activities and food-stalls on the banks of the lake. It has invested about Rs10 crore. Phato. K Gopraathar A view of the Nagavara Lake after it was leased out. The proposal to recycle the lake water could have serious implications for the recreational activities at the lake. Source: Divya Gandhi (2008b). Government Muddies the Waters, The Hindu, Junc 22. 22, Ulsoor Lake Itis a big lake constructed by Kempegowda II during the later part of the 16th century. This is the only surviving good tank built by Kempegowda kings. It covers a huge area of 125 acres. Till 1883, its water was used by people for drinking purposes. Afterwards, the consumption of this lake water was prohibited as the water got polluted. The lake is well maintained. It used for boat training for the defense personal. The tower built by Kempegowda is located near the lake. The lake surroundings are well maintained by the Tourism Department. It has been rejuvenated many times66 Dying Lakes of the Garden City and attracts a lot of tourists. Several measures have been taken to prevent the sewage from entering the lake. File Photo: K Bhagya Prakash The well-maintained Ulsoor Lake in Bangalore Source: Swathi Shivanand and Divya Gandhi (2007). Lakes in Bangalore Likely to be Declared Reserve Forests, The Hindu, Thursday, October 18. §.2. Profiles of Vanished Lakes 1. Challaghatta Lake The KGA Golf Course stands on what was ance the Chatlaghatta Tank Source: A Dossier of Lakes in Bangalore, Department of Forests, Environment & Ecology, LDA. and Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme, 2002.Profile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes‘Tanks 67 This tank was located towards south of HAL Road and east of Domlur layout. [t had 16 acres of water-spread area. As years rolled on, the lake was breached and converted into a Golf Course, where the affluent classes play the game. 2. Koramangala Lake A big sport complex was built to accommodate the Asian Games participants. Later these buildings were auctioned for the private people. The Koramangala Tank is today a sports complex Source:A Dossier of Lakes in Bangalore, Department of Forests, Environment & Ecology, LDA, and Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme, 2002. 3. Dharmambudhi Tank This was a very big tank, covering the area of Subedar Chatram Road where the present Annamma Temple is located. The 1247 Hoysaia inscription mentions that this tank was called Vengalur and it was enlarged and renamed as Dharmambudhi tank by Kempe Gowda-! during the 16th century. It used to provide the drinking water for the western part of the city and irrigate fields of the Thulasithota area.68 Dying Lakes of the Garden City - Ya. 7! i Bangalore City Bus Stand, once Dharmambudhi Tank Source:A Dossier of Lakes in Bangalore, Department of Forests, Environment & Ecology, LDA, and Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme, 2002. 4. Karanji Tank It was a big tank adjacent to Karanji Anjaneya temple and covered some parts of the Chamrajpet and Gandhi Bazar areas of Basavanagudi. It used to supply water to the port of Kempe Gowda . It was built by Kempe Gowda-II. As the lake was encroached upon and filled with slum water, it was breached as part of Malaria Eradication Programme and utilised for residential and other purposes. The National High School is one of the important institutions found on its bed. 5. Sampangi Tank This tank was constructed by Kempe Gowda-I during the latter part of the 16th century for providing water to the northeastem part of the township inside the fort, It was named as Sampigambudi after one of the daughter-in-laws. From here the famous Karaga of the city used to start. Today, the Kanteerava Stadium for sports stands on the tank bed.Profile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes’Tanks 69 Once Sampangi Tank... now Kanteerava Stadium Source: Arun Prasad, Vanishing Blues, Sunday Herald (Deccan Herald), March 26, 2006 Source:A Dossier of Lakes in Bangalore, Department of Forest, Environment & Ecology, LDA. and Indo-Norwegian Environment Programme, 2002. 6. Millers Tank Heavy encroachments and the highly polluted water turned Millers tank into a breeding ground of mosquitoes. Under the malaria eradication70 Dying Lakes of the Garden City programme, this lake was breached and used for construction of buildings. The important buildings on the lake bund are the Ambedkar Bhavan, Jain Hospital, UNI office building, couple of marriage halls, and many other buildings, including a few IT companies and other public institutions. Millers Tank...Where’s the water? Source: Arun Prasad, Vanishing Blues, Swndav Herald (Deccan Herald}, March 26, 2006 7. Siddikatte This tank was built during the Kempe Gowda period. It reached its dilapidated condition during the 19th century. As such, the tank was used for construction of Krishnarajeendra Market (K R Market). 8. Mathikere Tank It is situated between Hindustan Machine Tools and Bharath Electronics Limited (BEL). The area of the tank was 4] ha. Due to the high level of encroachment, the Lakshman Rau Committee suggested that the lake be converted as a regional park. Work in this regard has been started in the area under the comprehensive development plan. 9. Binnypet Tank It was called as Kempabudhi Agrahara. It was located behind the Old Binny Mills and the Government Leprosy Hospital. Magadi Road. This tank was built during the 16th century by Kempe Gowda-I] in the name ofProfile of Some Live and Vanished Lakes/Tanks 71 Gidde Gowda, the eldest son of Kempe Gowda-1. The atchkat area of the lake was 40 acres. This atchkat was donated to 48 scholars. Under the command area, the Gundu Mallige crop was grown which was used for the decoration of Bangalore Karaga and Ulsoor Pallakki. Solid wastes used to be dumped into this lake. Later a building was planned and constructed partially. A part of the tank was used for Agricultural Produce Marketing Corporation Yard. Even today, the surroundings of the lake are covered by sewage water. Binnypet lake...Spat the lake! Source: Arun Prasad, Vanishing Blues, Sunday Herald (Deccan Herald). March 26, 2006CHAPTER VI CONCLUSIONS AND POLICY IMPLICATIONS The generations in the past had, after examining the magnitude of rainfall and noticing the flow of water sources for several years, constructed the tanks to harvest this water. Their basic idea was not only to prevent floods but also to tap the rainwater for multiple purposes. However, the recent urban planners and land grabbers have forgotten this legacy. The planners have breached several of these tanks and utilised their beds and drainages for forming layouts, constructing roads, public offices and shopping complexes ete., without any concem for the consequences, such as flooding in their locations during the monsoon (Sawhney ef a/ 2004: 210). This shows the city planners’ lack of vision and their ignorance that non-filling of tanks is only a temporary phenomenon and that they may get filled up in future with good rainfall. The planners have also failed to understand that the destruction of tank system would definitely create more disadvantages than the benefits they may realise by destroying them. This is already evident from the enormous money spent by the civic authorities in several urban areas in the country to rebuild the infrastructure that had been damaged by floods and compensate for the private losses due to flooding. In order to overcome this problem, the government, while planning new projects and residential layouts for the growing population in urban areas, needs to take sufficient care to keep the lake/tank inlets and outlets, catchments, natural drainages, tank structure and the command areas intact. At least in future the planners have to study the 50-year tank/lake history and rainfall pattern before taking a decision to breach any tank for any purpose. If possible, the tanks/lakes and their irrigated area (which is more fertile) should be kept out of acquisition, and the dry land around them may be used for residential purposes. Steps should be taken to acquire land for layouts and other developments where inferior and dry lands free of lakes exist. If the government feels some of the infrastructure facilities are very essential, it can go ahead with such facilities provided necessary alignments are made So as to prevent these lakes/tanks from being destroyed. The government should also initiate appropriate actions against individuals and companies, who encroach on the tanks in collusion with officials who fabricate documents of encroached lands. This is a serous issue which the government should take note of. It is an immediate necessity to ensure that public properties are safeguarded for now and the future. One can hope that the recent amendment to the Kamataka Land RevenueConclusions and Policy implications 73 Act, 2007, would facilitate the government to punish the encroachers witha fine or imprisonment or both. It was expected that the LDA, which was set up in 2002, would prevent encroachments. But it has failed in this respect. This fact is clear from the recent interim report on encroachment of government lands in Bangalore by a Joint Legislature House Committee, which looked into the encroachment of government land in Bangalore Urban District. This report observed that the LDA had failed to protect the tanks and lake-beds of several lakes from encroachment since its inception and commented that it was a useless authority. It also indicated that several lakes in the city were highly polluted as the apartment complexes in the vicinity of the lakes let waste and sewage into them. All civic authorities (BBMP, BDA, KSPCB, the Revenue Department and the district administration) have failed to check them. The report also pointed out that the BMRDA had violated the law by giving approval for the development layouts on tank-beds. The conditions of many more lakes would become worse if the government machinery does not gear itselfto protect the lakes which would become part of the expansion of city from 225 sq km (BBMP) with a population of 43 lakhs (as per the 200f census) to 741 sq km (BBMP) with a population of 75 lakhs by merging 7 CMCs, one TMC and 11] villages into Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) which came into being on February 16, 2007. The city was once famous for several tanks. However, many of these lakes have disappeared along with their water-spreads, and irrigated and catchment areas. But the available data with the [rrigation Department and the Directorate of Economics and Statistics neither show any decline in the number of lakes nor irrigation potential created. Besides this, the data on several aspects of lakes are missing. Even the existing intormation on various aspects shows wide vartations across sources. For instance, the information on water-spread area of 125 lakes varies across sources. The water-spread area given by Lakshman Rau Committee Report and Deputy Commissioner's Office, Bangalore Urban district, is not the same in respect of 73 lakes. Similarly, the data of the LDA differ in respect of 13 lakes compared to lakes surveyed by the Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban district. More than this, the government does not have full information on the actual encroachment of lakes. The Lake Development Authority, which is supposed to coordinate several civic agencies and maintain a good data base about the tanks, has also failed in its attempts due to lack of manpower and adequate finances.74 Dying Lakes of the Garden City In order to overcome some of these problems, the government and the LDA initiated moves to survey lakes and tanks around Bangalore. In 2006, the LDA initiated a novel move for surveying 41 lakes by the Department of Survey, Settlement and Land Records in Bangalore Urban district to assess the actual extent of encroachment, (Kavitha Kushalappa 2006). This is a good move as steps are needed to survey all lakes. However, no report has been published so far in this regard. More than this, the Minor Irrigation Department has not collected any data on urban lakes and tanks. Many attempts by the Forest and Revenue Departments to survey all the tanks in Bangalore have also not met with success. All these indicate that the available information is sketchy besides not providing a clear status of tanks in the BBMP. Therefore, a complete survey of urban lakes/tanks is necessary on the lines of Minor Irrigation Census for every 5 years. This census should cover the total number of lakes, functional and non-functional, quality of water, usage of lakes for various purposes. This data may be verified by IRS Satellite imagery ‘remote-sensing technique. This would help the government frame proper policies for various categories of lakes. After rehabilitation of lakes/ tanks by LDA and other agencies, some of them have been given to private sector under Public Private Partnership (PPP Model) on lease basis for development, beautification and maintenance, as these practices are more prominent in several sectors after the liberalisation policies were introduced in 1991. The LDA has taken this decision on the grounds that they do not have sufficient funds and human resources for development and maintenance of lakes. According to LDA sources, a lake about the size of 25 hectares requires nearly Rs 4 crore for restoration and that the financial constraints make it impossible for the LDA to restore all lakes. However, this model has not found to be feasible and advantageous to the local community as it has led to exploitation of the lakes for commercial and profitable purposes, without due regard to the local community. In the past as well as at present, these lakes have been intensively used by all local residents and the general public for various purposes. Even today, the Agara Lake is being used by public for walking, Jogging and recreational purposes: the Hebbal Lake for customary and traditional occupations like fishing, grazing and irrigation. Bird watchers and passers usually stay for a moment to watch these lakes. Besides this, the lakes form a major subject for the research scientists who are studying wetlands and aquatic and birds’ life. In fact, the Hebbal Lake has been repeatedly proposed for conservation as a bird refuge and its watershed as a Regional Park (as per the Lakshman Rau Committee Report, 1986).Conclusions and Poiicy Implications 75 The privatisation of lakes has to be reviewed in the light of the recent reported cases of encroachment by lease holders for expanding their buildings. It was also found that the lease holders were overusing the lakes for commercial purposes without showing any concessions to the earlier stakeholders of these common properties when they wanted to use them. Noticing this, a Public Interest Litigation was filed by the Environment Support Group challenging the privatisation of four lakes in the city. While hearing the case, the Karnataka High Court on November 5, 2008, (Anonymous 2008) restrained the Lake Development Authority (LDA) “from entering into any fresh agreement with companies to develop any lake in the State”, and also obtained an undertaking from three developers that they would not make any further development in Hebbal, Nagwara and Agaram lakes and all water bodies in Bangalore. The High Court on further hearing of the case in February, 2009, not only asked for the comprehensive policy for the lakes development in the city but also expressed un-happiness over the functioning of the LDA. It has also pointed out that the LDA was acting as an auctioning authority. It also made a point that the government should not Tenew any lease after the expiry of 15 years (Anonymous 2009a). In addition to this, the court in its notification on February 19, 2009, announced the setting up of Green Bench, the first of its kind in the legal history of the country, to deal with the writ petitions relating to environment including lakes (Anonymous 2009b). If these legal directions are followed properly, the lakes in the city could sustain. In addition to above, it is also better to consider some other alternatives to PPP, which have made some impact elsewhere. In rural areas, the Tank Users Groups (TUGs) have been created after rehabilitation of lakes in all respects in many parts of the country. Some of these groups have been maintaining the tanks fairly well. On these lines, Lake Water User Groups have to be formed where more number of residents can enjoy the beauty of the lakes and the micro climate. These bodies may be trained by the LDA in matters of maintenance and benefits they derive from such maintenance, It is the right time to take back leased out lakes from different agencies and departments and entrust the same to the local residents for maintenance on the lines of Tank User Groups (TUGs) in the rural areas. A few lakes/tanks in Mysore have been maintained by voluntary and residential associations and wildlife activists by way of cleaning the lakes and preventing the waste from being dumped into them. In 1999- 2000, the wildlife and environmental activists succeeded in preventing the construction of the ring road over Lingabudikere (Jagannatha, Ramesh and76 Dying Lakes of the Garden City Dhamendra 2002). Such agencies should come forward to take up the development of lakes in Bangalore. Organisations such as Hasiru Usiru, Alternative Law Forum, Equations, CIVIC, Open Space, Environment Support Group, SICHREM, Samvada and Arkavathy Kumudavathy Punaschethana Samithi have opposed the privatisation of four lakes in Bangalore City. Such pro-lake protests and public awareness moves are necessary to preserve the community assets (Anonymous 2008a). The rapid growth of IT, IT-enabted services, corporate sector and other business establishments in the city has caused rapid urbanisation, affecting several tanks. In the name of development and maintenance, the LDA has handed over some of the lakes/tanks to the private parties under the PPP Model. A few builders, who are closer to the locations of lakes, have already adopted them from the LDA on lease basis for maintenance. But this strategy is not working well. The adopters are not allowing the public to use the lakes. Those who adopted lakes have also started discharging their apartments’ sewage into the lakes besides encroaching upon the lake- beds. Therefore, the government should think in terms of involving IT, corporate, business establishments, builders and residential associations in tank development by using their resources without expecting ownership and without exploiting them for commercial purposes. They should be given tax concession for being involved in the development of tanks. Public awareness should also be created about the lakes. Schools and colleges should be involved in the maintenance of lakes. Engineering colleges are aplenty in Bangalore and can be directed to develop and monitor a lake/tank each. This kind of strategy can help them acquire practical knowledge about lakes besides protecting the lakes. In several parts in the city, irreparable damage has been done to the lakes and tanks by private individuals by dumping wastes and discharging the sewage water into the tanks. Quite often, they cause damage to waste weir and sluices, in order to reduce water levels in the tank so as prevent their houses from being submerged. Such people should be fined and punished. The residents around the lakes enjoying the beauty of lakes/tanks have the responsibility of taking care of them. Ifnecessary, they should be given concession in their Residential Property Tax, under Self-Assessment Scheme (SAS). In case they fail to do so, they should be levied a hefty house tax. The urban lakes should be restored with pogrammes like rural tanks rehabilitation programme to make them more useful in maintaining cleanConclusions and Policy Implications 7 climate in urban areas. Lakes are crucial considering the fact that pollution levels are on the rise and we need to supplement water supply by enriching ground water. The continued dependence on Cauvery water forever will not be a good Solution particularly in the context of the dispute between Karnataka and its neighboring states with regard to sharing of the Cauvery river water. At present, the lakes are under different agencies and the LDA is only a go-between in terms of getting grants from funding agencies and asking other agencies to carry out the work. This is coming in the way of completion of restoration of lakes in time, leading to cost escalation. More than this, the LDA does not have adequate finance and manpower for effective rejuvenation programme and subsequent management of lakes. Therefore, the lakes, which are under the LDA (located in the areas of BDA and BBMP), should be transferred to these agencies as they have sufficient resources and manpower to implement the restoration programmes and also to maintain them subsequently. A few lakes developed by BBMP are in a relatively good condition and is a good case in point. Recently. the government has started transferring the lakes from the LDA to BDA and BBMP for effective protection and maintenance. This is a welcome step. Already, 17 lakes have been transferred to BBMP and steps have been to taken to restore them under Jawarlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNRM) with a fund of Rs 190 crore. Under this, 35 per cent of the cost would be contributed by the Government of India. 15 per cent by the Government of Karnataka and 50 per cent by the BBMP. En addition to this, the State Government has also decided to hand over | 2 lakes to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for their rejuvenation (Swathi Shivanand 2007) at a cost of Rs 90 crore. Another 15 lakes are selected under Integrated. Water Management Scheme to be taken up by BWSSB. The BWSSB intends to recycle the water of 12 lakes to meet the growing demand for drinking water. In the first phase, it plans to involve five lakes, namely, Nagavara (30 million litres per day), Kalkere (20 MLD), Bellandur (60 MLD), Kengeri and Vengaiahnakere (20 MLD). A total of 270 MLD of water of 12 lakes would be treated and recycled. Already tenders have been sought for the Nagavara and Bellandur lakes. The BWSSB plans to complete this work in one-and-a-half years. In the second phase, it intends to take up recycling of water of another 7 lakes - Doddabele. Y M Chetty. Hulimavu, Pillarakatte, Agaram, Puttenhalli (J P Nagar) and Madavara (Divya Gandhi 2008b).78 Dying Lakes of the Garden City Sewage is a major problem contributing to the pollution of lakes significantly. In order to prevent this, primary sewage should be treated before letting it into the tanks. The existing treatment plants in four major valleys, namely, Challaghatta Valley, Koramangala Valley, Vrishabhavati Valley and Hebbal Valley, have to be made more effective as the plants located on the banks of these lakes have not been working well. The four valleys have been heavily encroached upon. They are not in a position to carry the rainwater collected in and around the city and the surpluses of many tanks in the catchment area of these valleys. Unless these remedial measures are undertaken, the city’s ecological balance, agricultural output, water crisis and floods around the cities would worsen and finally stem the overall growth, Already, the scarcity of water in the cities has ted to out-of-the-box steps like Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) and judicious use of sewage water. In Bangalore, the residents in the new layout have been directed to make provision for harvesting rainwater on roofs. The BDA has decided to lay two separate water supply lines in the new layouts, of which one line will exclusively be used for supplying recycled water. These two schemes are not viable as they also involve a lot of expenditure. The Rain Water Harvesting (RWH) on roofs scheme is also not justifiable, because, on the one hand, the government itself is destroying the existing tanks and, on the other, it is encouraging RWH., If rain-harvesting on roofs is made mandatory and implemented strictly, there may net be enough run-off water to the streams and water-starved tanks in other places. This may affect agriculture and drinking needs of human beings and livestock in rural areas. Instead of thinking on these lines, the planners should take necessary measures to retain the tanks, catchments and command areas while forming new layouts. If possible, efforts should be made to convert the residential areas into lakes, which were lake areas earlier. Efforts should also be made to restore the cutoff links from one tank to another tank with sufficient drainages and demolish houses or any structures built on tank properties even if they are legal ones, and evict them from tank-bed areas and drainages and rehabilitate them elsewhere. This’ measure can be defended on the grounds that many roads have been widened by demolishing the houses. The study has found that the urban community sorely lacks in civic sense and does not hesitate to destroy these lakes. They have to be educated and informed about the value of the lakes and their benefits to the society. Bore-wells in the city are drying up due to the overexploitation and loss of water bodies in the city. Therefore, the restoration of these tanks has