Shivamogga: Deputy Commissioner K. B. Shivakumar ordered the officers to clear the encroached lakes on preferential basis in the district.

He was speaking to taluk-level officials by holding review meeting to check progress of works on encroached lakes in the district through video conferencing from DC’s office here.

Based on the order of National Green Tribunal, a district-level committe has been set up. Tahshildars have to take up measures in order under take survey programmes of all the lakes, phase-wise. And every month a target has to be set and thereafter a report of clearance of encroached lakes need to submitted, he added.

Further, DC said that once the clearance is done, the lakes have to be handed over to the concerned departments and that department head should be appointed as its nodal officer. If at all the lakes are again encroached, a legal action has been taken against the said nodal officer, he ordered.

Finally, he stressed that no room should be given for the encroachment of lakes. Even after warning, if a lake is encroached upon then a legal action should be taken against the said people, he instructed.