Riding on water

By Editor on 09 Jun 2011 Category:Environment, Governance, Water

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In 2002, the Lake Development Authority (LDA) was set up as a non-profit society, ostensibly to manage and safeguard the interest of Bangalore’s rapidly vanishing lake systems. Consisting of forest department and IFS officials, it intended to monitor the regeneration and preservation of these water bodies, not just in Bangalore but also across Karnataka.

 

The need for this body was critical, since, according to the Environmental Support Group ( ESG ), `there were 159 water bodies spread over 2,342 hectares in Greater Bangalore region in 1973. They plunged to 93 over 918 hectares in 2007’ and the numbers were still dwindling what with lakes being filled up over the years and being used as construction sites , stadiums, bus stands or dumping grounds for the city’s sewage. 

 

But then,  in an unexpected turn of events that foxed environmentalists and nature lovers alike, the LDA leased out four of the city’s lakes for a period of 15 years and seven on an `adoption policy’ for five years. The question on everyone’s lips was that if the LDA was constituted to protect the welfare of lakes, why would it therefore proceed to sanction a privatisation of the same? 

 

Lakes have always been public spaces (Common Property Resources ). Everyone is entitled to appreciate and enjoy them freely. There are also ecosystems created around these water bodies, where communities co-exist beside them and depend on them for sustenance (drinking, water for livestock, washing, for their fields) as well as livelihoods ( agriculture, fishing ). Lakes are also ecologically sensitive and rich in bio-diversity since they provide a natural habitat for many different kinds of species. Many lakes also play a part in religious rituals and sacred practises and have heritage significance.

 

Therefore, the ESG recently submitted a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) against the ongoing privatisation of these lakes ( Hebbal, Nagawara, Agara) by the LDA. In the PIL, they questioned the validity of the agreement and this exercise of authority in the handing over of the lakes -- Hebbal lake (Oberoi Hotel group), Nagavara (Lumbini Group), Vengaiahkere (Par-C group) and Agara (Biota)  to private, profit making entities even while the LDA maintained that it is for the rehabilitation, restoration and maintenance of the same.

 

Concerns were also raised simultaneously across the city on the lack of legislations regarding construction and layouts of sites being developed in catchment  areas with  experts also maintaining that these need to be looked at closely for encroachments that are altering topography and `hydrological functioning’.

 

In the meantime, the Lumbini Group speedily moved on to convert the Nagawara lake into a popular entertainment zone and the enticing offers for fun and frolic from the `city's first and only boating and leisure park’ range from ‘a wide range of boating and leisure options including Bumper boats for the family; two seater to 15-seater boats for boat rides, a floating coffee shop for `the family and friends’, jet skiing with water-skiing devices, speedboat, floating restaurants, boat restaurants, wave pool, bumper boating, leisure boating, jet skis,  boating and fountain,  to a  rotating carousel, `Vortex’,  a variety of swings, the `Spanish bull fight with life-like simulated and inflatable bulls’ and a special children's pool!
In lieu of this, experts believe that instead of focussing on its core responsibilities, this distressing privatisation move by the LDA will:
• Convert valuable public spaces into private, commercial ones
• Create limited access for the general public and traditional users /inhabitants of the area.
• Support an exclusivist approach (already begun in Nagwara ) and class based zones with only a certain strata of people frequenting these areas or being allowed admittance.
• Disturb the ecological balance, and create a huge negative environmental impact.
According to a report `The Impact of Privatisation of Lakes in Bangalore by Rohan D’Souza, `large number of bodies having ownership and responsibility for maintenance has led to a situation where each department is busy passing the buck and washing its hands off maintenance, which in turn has meant destruction of many lakes, either through encroachment or pollution. This has further reduced the number of visible lakes from 117 to 33, out of which only 15 are in some stage of being healthy water bodies.”
Evidently, there is a lot of pressure on the government to maintain these lakes, and therefore, perhaps desperate times have called for desperate measures.
However, if this plan goes through, not only will traditional users be displaced, but fauna in the lake will be disturbed, birds will not come to nest and local flora will also be damaged beyond repair. The creation of critical wetlands will also be hindered significantly.
While responsible governance, a decentralised, sensitised administration and co-ordination amongst the various government bodies responsible for these lakes is the need of the hour, what we must do is to be vocal, support the PIL and ask for:
1. Removal of all encroachment from the catchment areas
2. Effective treatment of sewage water before it gets released into our lakes
3. A ban on the dumping of solid waste into lake waters
4. Removal of blockages and encroachment in storm water drains that are connected to the lakes
5. Restoration of polluted lakes.
6. Creation of sensitive, sustainable, revenue models to support maintenance activities
This can be done in partnership with the local communities, thus creating ownership of these natural spaces.  Lakes can also become valuable field and study trip sites for schools, who can study and be made aware of their importance. Environmentalists can conduct awareness building workshops, tours and even community-based projects here to get people to engage with lakes and help protect them. Natural history museums can be set up, documenting lake eco-systems for public consumption. The list is endless and can be creative as well, if we have an involved community and a sympathetic, and equally involved and government.
All manifestations of nature are vibrant living beings. The outcome of the PIL will determine if we will allow our lakes to live and thrive, or die.
-Aliyeh Rizvi
Also visit 
Jakkur Lake –The Lake tales project 
Tags: bangalore, governance, lakes, water
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