NEWS – The Karnataka government has proposed amending buffer zone norms for lakes based on waterbody size, replacing the uniform 30-metre limit set in 2008. This shift comes after years of legal tussles, policy reversals, and public opposition over lake protection in Bengaluru and across the state.

HIGHLIGHTS

Proposed Buffer Norms

• 0.05 guntas–1 acre: 3 metres
• 1–10 acres: 6 metres
• 10–25 acres: 12 metres
• 25–100 acres: 24 metres
• Above 100 acres: 30 metres (unchanged)

The draft also permits public utility infrastructure like pipelines, roads, bridges, and sewage treatment plants within the buffer zones.

Government Rationale

• First in India to “scientifically” link buffer size to tank area.
• Addresses complaints from smaller towns (e.g., Kundapura, Udupi) about uniform 30m rule.
• Comparative example: Telangana (9m), Tamil Nadu (3m).

Activists’ Concerns

• Ecological threat: Reduced buffers may encourage encroachment, sewage inflow, and garbage dumping, especially in small, congested urban lakes.
• Governance gap: No prior public consultation with experts, citizens, or BBMP lake custodians.
• Urban vulnerability: Bengaluru’s dense population and pollution demand larger, not smaller, buffers.

Legal and Historical Context

• 2008: Uniform 30m buffer mandated.
• 2016 (NGT): Increased to 75m for lakes; later struck down by Supreme Court in 2019, reverting to 30m.
• 2003 (T.G. Halli): 1 km buffer later reduced, sparking legal disputes.

Debate Ahead

Supporters: Call it progressive, size-sensitive regulation.

Critics: Fear legitimisation of violations and erosion of biodiversity safeguards.

The draft amendment is yet to be tabled in the Karnataka Assembly and Council, setting the stage for further policy and public debate on balancing urban development with ecological conservation.