‘It is so easy, just remove 0, what is a great magic in it?’

Yes, I can hear some whispers. Once you’ve read this editorial, you will agree that this truly is magic. For the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA),it is, of course, a simple trick, not a big magic. For the common man, it is a shock, when they read in newspapers that the mandatory buffer area, which was originally 30 meters from the waterbodies and canals, may become 3 meters at the stroke of a pen. According to the NGT, the buffer zone for lakes is 75 meters. For lakes or tanks, it was further reduced to 30 meters for lakes by the Hon’ble Supreme Court in 2019. The present proposal to reduce the buffer area further.

Once known as Lake City, Bengaluru has been a witness to many onslaughts by the real estate mafia, who have been instrumental in the disappearance of 1000s of stormwater drains (SWDs) and canals (kaluve in Kannada). Most of the Rajakaluve (bigger canals) have been reduced to sewage drains. Majestic Bus Stand is situated on Dharmambudhi Lake. Many lakes have given way to stadiums, sports complexes, and residential layouts to date. A handful of lakes left out are also under threat. Instead of saving them, the present proposal is going to be a slow poison, if implemented. Most of the canals are there only on maps, not in reality.  Understanding the rationale behind such move is difficult. According to some viewpoints, smaller lakes require a larger buffer since the vulnerability is high. Buffer areas must not be used for roads or construction purposes but left as it is for ecosystem development.   It has also been suggested that the modifications are intended solely for the development of public utilities. However, proponents of this reduction must clearly explain how they will maintain ecological balance and ensure that the ‘reclaimed’ buffer areas do not become targets for the real estate mafia. KTCDA should conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by an expert panel and then enforce the proposal as per their advice.

So, by this time, you might have realized the secret of the magic.