Bengaluru Lakes Encroached: BBMP Reveals Extent
WATER & WASTE

Bengaluru Lakes Encroached: BBMP Reveals Extent

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) informed the Karnataka High Court that 235 acres across 183 active lakes in Bengaluru have been encroached upon by private parties and government agencies. Legal measures are being taken to reclaim these lands.

A joint survey by BBMP and the Revenue Department uncovered the scale of encroachments, disclosed in an affidavit filed during a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) hearing by Citizen Action Group. This is the first time BBMP has revealed comprehensive lake encroachment details.

Of the 183 lakes, 120 are partially encroached by private entities, while 131 are occupied by government agencies for infrastructure projects. Despite this, BBMP has reclaimed only seven acres from 13 lakes.

Over the past three years, BBMP allocated ?52.55 crore for lake conservation, installing 38,321 meters of fencing, with 12,575 meters still underway. Following court directives, BBMP published lake encroachment details on its website.

During a recent hearing, the court demanded precise data on encroachment extent, reclaimed areas, and pending actions. Advocate General K Shashikiran Shetty presented details, but petitioners argued the lack of specifics hindered eviction efforts. The court directed BBMP to submit detailed reports, postponing the hearing.

Encroachments by private entities include structures on 88 lakes, religious buildings on 42, and slums on 9. Government projects, including roads, cemeteries, temples, and bus stands, affect 131 lakes. BBMP faces a formidable challenge in reclaiming and conserving Bengaluru’s water bodies.

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) informed the Karnataka High Court that 235 acres across 183 active lakes in Bengaluru have been encroached upon by private parties and government agencies. Legal measures are being taken to reclaim these lands. A joint survey by BBMP and the Revenue Department uncovered the scale of encroachments, disclosed in an affidavit filed during a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) hearing by Citizen Action Group. This is the first time BBMP has revealed comprehensive lake encroachment details. Of the 183 lakes, 120 are partially encroached by private entities, while 131 are occupied by government agencies for infrastructure projects. Despite this, BBMP has reclaimed only seven acres from 13 lakes. Over the past three years, BBMP allocated ?52.55 crore for lake conservation, installing 38,321 meters of fencing, with 12,575 meters still underway. Following court directives, BBMP published lake encroachment details on its website. During a recent hearing, the court demanded precise data on encroachment extent, reclaimed areas, and pending actions. Advocate General K Shashikiran Shetty presented details, but petitioners argued the lack of specifics hindered eviction efforts. The court directed BBMP to submit detailed reports, postponing the hearing. Encroachments by private entities include structures on 88 lakes, religious buildings on 42, and slums on 9. Government projects, including roads, cemeteries, temples, and bus stands, affect 131 lakes. BBMP faces a formidable challenge in reclaiming and conserving Bengaluru’s water bodies.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code