Summary:
While local department officials came under fire, Minor Irrigation Department officials claimed that the temporary road constructed for pipeline-laying works would be removed and that their works “will in no way affect the lake”. more-inIssues such as salvaging the near-dissolved Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority, action against Minor Irrigation Department officials for “encroaching” on Varthur lake as well as the continuing encroachments and illegal dumping dominated the meeting between citizens, officials and members of a committee constituted by the National Green Tribunal on Sunday. Among the issues brought to the notice of the committee was the construction of road, laying of pipelines and drawing of high tension wires through Varthur lake. Residents also told the committee that lakes should not be handed over to the department, and instead, the KLCDA should continue as the supervising agency. While the committee’s purview is to check the solid waste dumping and removal of weeds, residents pointed out that even adjoining twin-lake of Varthur was beset with problems..