Deccan Herald                 04.01.2014

200 km of canals encroached

A survey of 650 km-long major canals (raja
kaluve) in Bangalore Urban district has revealed that at least 200 km of
the canals have been encroached upon.

Following a
flurry of complaints, RTI applications and newspaper reports about the
encroachment of canals, the joint survey by the Bruhat Bangalore
Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and the revenue department was conducted in 227
villages out of 271 villages.

The task was accomplished in six
months by 44 surveyors of the revenue department and 60 BBMP engineers.
Survey work in the remaining 44 villages would be completed within a
week, said Deputy Commissioner of Bangalore Urban, G C Prakash. He
handed over the village-wise survey report to the BBMP Chief Engineer
(stormwater drains), H C Ananthaswamy on Thursday.

According to the report, the BBMP — the custodian of
all canals within its limits — is one of the main encroachers, along
with some private builders, layout developers and nursing homes.
Speaking to reporters, Prakash said a crackdown will be launched on the
encroachment within ten days, that may go on for more than a year.

Apart
from individuals, there are some influential people behind the
encroachments. However influential those people may be, they will be
treated as encroachers and action will be taken accordingly,” said
Prakash.

We have identified the encroachments. Now, it is up to
the BBMP to evict them. We will lend our support wherever required,” he
added.

The information will soon be uploaded on a website. The
BBMP Chief Engineer, Ananthaswamy said the work would start in ten days
and the focus would be on sensitive zones where the chances of flooding
during rains are very high. “Initially we will take up ten kilometres
and then proceed further,” he said.

167 lakes disappeared

Along
with canals, lakes have been surveyed too. Prakash said there were 937
lakes in the Bangalore Urban District, including in Anekal Taluk, while
167 lakes had disappeared. He said restoration of canals would help save
all the lakes in Bangalore.