[Urbanstudy] 1,131 ‘left out’ lakes located by Survey department

[Vinay Baindur]

http://www.bangaloremirror.com/bangalore/civic/1131-left-out-lakes-found/articleshow/48365655.cms
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1,131 ‘left out’ lakes found
By Suchith Kidiyoor, Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Aug 6, 2015, 04.00 AM IST
[image: 1,131 ‘left out’ lakes found]
Bengaluru’s lakes: A forgotten chapter
*These were among those located by Survey department that were not listed
by district authorities*


The Survey, Settlement and Land Records department, during the course of
its ongoing lake encroachment survey, has managed to identify over 1,000
'left out' lakes which were not listed by the district authorities earlier
for the survey.
The department relied on 1965 survey reports and village maps to identify
hundreds of lakes in Bengaluru urban and Bengaluru rural districts. In
Bangalore urban district, the department has managed to collect details of
464 lakes which were not included earlier by district authorities while
giving its report to the house committee, which is investigating the issue
of lake encroachment. In Bengaluru rural district, 667 lakes were found
which were not included earlier. Interestingly, the department is also
surveying a whopping 1,281 small ponds and water bodies in urban limits and
1,079 in rural areas.
An official of the department said, "The district administration earlier
depended on Karnataka Public Lands Corporation Limited for the list of
lakes and water bodies in the two districts. However, during the course of
survey, we found out that hundreds of lakes have been left out by
authorities. Now we have incorporated them in the existing list. We have
relied on comprehensive documents developed way back in 1965."
The official said that at present, 317 surveyors are working on the task of
covering close to 3,000 lakes in the two districts and small water bodies.
"As it is a mammoth task, we have employed surveyors from neighbouring
districts such as Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru, Chitradurga and others.
"To carry out the drive in an effective manner, we have also appointed a
nodal officer to carry out checks and make sure that work is going on as
per set standards. We have already covered most of the lakes, it would take
one more month to finish the rest of the work," said the official.
Speaking to Bangalore Mirror, chairman of the committee K B Koliwad said,
"The survey work on lake encroachment is going at a good pace. We were told
that survey reports on over 1,500 lakes are ready. We have called for the
next meet of the committee in the coming week. We hope the remaining
reports would come to us as early as possible."
The House committee was formed to study encroachment of lakes in the city
and rural districts, after Opposition raised the issue of rampant misuse of
lake land by builders. Based on the HC order, the administration demolished
hundreds of properties to recover lake land in Sarakki and Banaswadi.


*Water, water everywhere*

** IIn Bangalore urban, 464 lakes not included earlier by district
authorities have been identified *
** In Bengaluru rural district, 667 lakes were found which were not
included earlier*
** The department is also surveying a whopping 1,281 small ponds and water
bodies in urban limits and 1,079 in rural areas*
** Officials are relying on comprehensive documents developed way back in
1965*
** At present, 317 surveyors are working on covering 3,000 lakes and small
water bodies in the two districts*
** Surveyors from Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Tumakuru and Chitradurga roped in
for initiative *
** Survey reports on over 1,500 lakes are said to be ready*
** Committee likely to offer recommendations on restricting encroachment of
lake land and finding solutions for residential buildings on such land*
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