By Melvin MathewBENGALURU: The Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA) has asked the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to halt construction on the buffer zone of Pattandur Agrahara Lake. Residents had raised the issue about the illegal layout to the tank authority.
After BDA stopped the construction, KTCDA wrote to BDA and BBMP urging the authorities to take strict action to prevent any unauthorised construction near the White Rose Layout. Residents raised the issue last year with the tank authority stating illegal construction and road within Pattandur Agrahara Lake’s buffer zone.
KTCDA asked BDA and BBMP officials to conduct a survey of the land and stop construction within 30 metres of the lake boundary (lake buffer zone).
This was the second illegal construction reported by the Whitefield Ward Committee. Earlier, the ward committee group reported an illegal construction ongoing in the White Rose Layout and consequently issued notices against 72 unauthorised constructions.
“We had reported about this illegal layout in December. They were also attempting to form a road through the lake buffer zones. There is a walk path and it’s being converted into a 30ft road. We had also observed sewage pipelines being dropped into the lake,” said Sandeep Anirudhan, a member of the Whitefield Ward Committee.
We had reported about this in December. There is a walk path and it’s being converted into a 30ft road– Sandeep Anirudhan, member, Whitefield Ward Committee
According to the KTCDA Act, in the interest of protecting lakes, it prohibits making any irregular and unauthorised construction, establishing commercial, recreational, or industrial complexes or houses, or carrying out any industrial activity within thirty meters of the outer boundary of the tank. This regulation aims to safeguard the ecological balance and sustainability of the water bodies, emphasising the critical need for strict enforcement to preserve the natural heritage of the region.
