Bengaluru: Even as the state cabinet in its meeting held last week decided to halt demolitions on erstwhile lakebeds till the 11 member committee constituted in November last submits its report, the Congress MLA?K?B?Koliwad, who heads the committee, on Tuesday said that he would place a draft interim report before the committee on lake encroachment in and around Bengaluru, a panel which he heads, on May 19 for acceptance.

After the cabinet meet, that took this crucial decision, Law Minister T?B?Jayachandra had indicated that the committee would be submitting its interim report in 15 days.

Koliwad said that he was preparing a draft interim report and the same would be placed before the committee on May 19 for discussion. “The panel will recommend that the interest of innocent citizens should be protected and those responsible for the illegal constructions on lakebeds be punished”, Koliwad said.

He said many citizens had purchased sites and constructed houses on lakebeds without knowing about the illegality. “In cases where it is possible such construction will be spared. In cases where demolition is inevitable, we will recommend that alternative arrangements be made available to them”,  Koliwad said. He added that he cannot divulge the proceedings of the panel meetings as it would amount to breach of privilege of the legislature.

The panel will also be making spot visits to lakes in Bengaluru east and south in the coming days. Koliwad said that there were 1,718 lakebeds in Bengaluru Urban. He said documents pertaining to the lakes had been sought from all departments concerned.

Compensation scheme for demolished houses?

Meanwhile Revenue Minister V. Srinivas Prasad on Monday said the government is seriously considering rehabilitating those who lost their houses in the demolition drive against constructions on lakebeds in Bengaluru.

Responding to a memorandum submitted by a delegation of BJP leaders led by MLA S. Suresh Kumar, the minister said he would take a call on rehabilitation after consultations with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

The drive had been carried out in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directive against encroachment of water bodies, he added. Though the government is sympathetic to the plight of people who lost their properties, it would act sternly against land sharks responsible for such encroachments, he asserted.

Referring to the concern over the BDA developing layouts on lakebeds, he said authorities would examine if the civic agency had obtained the government’s permission before developing those layouts.

Meanwhile, former chief minister and Janata Dal (S) leader H. D. Kumaraswamy maintained that it is not possible for the House Committee, which is looking into encroachments of lakes in Bengaluru, to submit an interim report within 15 days, as it is yet to commission a full-fledged survey of lakes. He said the government is yet to respond to the request by the committee to provide services of about 200 surveyors for conducting the survey. He demanded that the government stop the demolition drive till the committee submits its final report and that the government immediately publish the list of land sharks responsible for the encroachments and the officials who connived with them by forging documents.

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