“Up to 1.14 lakh properties have encroached buffer zones around lakes while a further 1.34 lakh households have come up within the buffer zone of rajakaluves (SWDs),” said K.B. “BBMP (Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike) has given us these figures after they hired an independent agency to ascertain the extent of buffer zone violations. “We are going by the 2007 Act and not the recent National Green Tribunal order (which increases the buffer zone to 75m). There has not been any notification with regard to the new buffer zone,” said Mr. Koliwad. A report on the encroachments of other water bodies will take ‘at least three months’ more.

Source: The Hindu October 27, 2016 02:48 UTC