Politics · India · 2 hrs ago
Karnataka draft on lake and drain buffers draws objections
The Karnataka government has proposed standardising buffer rules around lakes and drains across much of the state, excluding areas under four named planning authorities.
The draft notification, dated October 9, sets out buffer distances based on lake size and drain classification.
Citizen-led platform Mapping Malnad has urged the Urban Development Department to reject the proposed reductions, arguing that they favour real estate interests.
It says the draft was not widely publicised and gave people no email address for submitting objections.
The group also says the changes conflict with technical guidance on drainage planning and a 2012 Karnataka High Court judgment that supported existing lake buffers and stronger drain protections.
The dispute concerns flood protection and water security, as the group warns that development near lakes and drains could weaken Bengaluru’s defences and create similar risks elsewhere in Karnataka.
The proposed rules remain a draft; the material provided does not say what the government will do next.
Karnataka has proposed changes to zoning rules that would standardise buffer zones around lakes and drains in parts of the state.
Citizen-led platform Mapping Malnad has objected, saying the proposed reductions could harm water security and public safety.
The draft does not apply to regions under GBA, BDA, BMRDA and BMICAPA.
It proposes drain buffers of 15 metres for primary drains, 10 metres for secondary drains and 5 metres for tertiary drains.
Mapping Malnad says the draft was not adequately publicised and conflicts with technical guidance and judicial directions.
- Who
- The Karnataka government proposed the draft. Mapping Malnad, a citizen-led platform, raised objections.
- What
- The draft proposes changes to zoning rules and standardised buffers around lakes and drains.
- When
- The draft notification is dated October 9. The article does not state its year.
- Where
- Karnataka, excluding regions under GBA, BDA, BMRDA and BMICAPA.
- Why
- The government said the changes would standardise buffers around water bodies. Mapping Malnad says the reductions are driven by real estate interests.
Karnataka government
Mapping Malnad
Purpose
Karnataka government
The draft proposes standardising buffer zones around lakes and drains.
Mapping Malnad
The proposed reductions disregard technical guidance and judicial directions, the platform says.
Effects
Karnataka government
The draft sets buffer distances for lakes and drains.
Mapping Malnad
The platform warns the changes could weaken flood protection and water security.
Consultation
Karnataka government
The draft notification proposes changes to zoning rules across the covered areas.
Mapping Malnad
Mapping Malnad says the draft was not publicised through prominent newspapers or readily accessible government websites and provided no email address for objections.
The Karnataka High Court accepted the Justice N.K. Patil Committee’s report on lake and drain buffers.
A meeting chaired by the Deputy Chief Minister and Bengaluru Urban Development Minister discussed activities in buffer areas of nalas and water bodies.
A meeting chaired by the Karnataka Chief Secretary recorded the suggestion to amend the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority Act.
Amendments to the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority Act, 2014, notified lake buffer reductions, according to the letter.
The Karnataka government dated its draft notification proposing changes to zoning rules and water-body buffers.
No key facts available yet.
What people are saying
The proposed reductions are driven by real estate interests, disregarding the Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organisation’s (CPHEEO) technical guidelines on drainage planning and existing judicial directions on lakes
We can expect the same to happen across Karnataka