448 out of 962 lakes encroached upon in Mandya: DC
Deputy Commissioner Kumar on Friday said that 448 out of 962 lakes in Mandya district are encroached upon, based on data from the Cauvery Niravari Nigama, the Minor Irrigation Department, the zilla panchayat, and the Department of Water Resources.
Of these, encroachments on 245 lakes have been cleared.
Presiding over a review meeting on the clearance of lake encroachment at his office, the Deputy Commissioner spoke on the importance of protecting water bodies and directed officials to submit monthly Taluk Level Committee (TLC) reports, with details about the progress made in clearing encroachments. The reports must include GPS-tagged photographs of cleared areas, he told the meeting.
However, no such reports have been submitted in the past two months, Dr. Kumar said, while issuing a stern warning that failure to clear encroachments and submit the required documentation by the next meeting would result in action under the Karnataka Land Grabbing (Prohibition) Act, 2011.
Dr. Kumar said that despite repeated instructions, some departments have failed to act though the Revenue Department has already completed surveying and demarcating lake boundaries. The officers of the respective department have been tasked with removing encroachments and reporting their progress.
The Deputy Commissioner said clearing encroachments is only the first step, and measures must also be taken to prevent re-encroachment. He instructed officials to install warning sign boards around lakes, establish a grievance redressal cell to address complaints related to encroachment and pollution, and ensure no solid waste is dumped in lakes, as it is a punishable offence.
During the meeting, Dr. Kumar said that 158 lake-related legal cases have been filed between 2010 and 2024 under the Karnataka Public Lands Corporation. These include 19 cases in Mandya taluk, 25 in Maddur, 90 in Nagamangala, five in Malavalli, 15 in Srirangapatna, and four in K.R. Pet. All these cases must be addressed promptly, he added.
As many of these lakes provide water for cattle, the Deputy Commissioner directed that water quality tests be conducted every three months. The Karnataka Urban Water Supply Board offers water testing services at ₹625 a test, and the services can be used, he told the meeting.
To support lake conservation, he suggested the use of MGNREGA funds to plant saplings around smaller lakes to prevent encroachment. Also, corporate social responsibility funds can be used for lake beautification, and officials were directed to submit a list of lakes suitable for such development projects.
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