Encroachers and squatters on public land should be removed expeditiously without the pre-requisite of providing them alternative sites before such encroachments are cleared. Land owning agencies should collect data and verify the position of the land meant for development of the city and conduct periodic checks to ensure that no further encroachment takes place on public land and that the encroach

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Venkata Subba Rao, a resident of RBI Colony in Jayanagar is a happy man. In 2005 he spotted the auction of the now dry Byrasandra tank (near Jayanagar Swimming Pool) by Indian Overseas Bank and initiated legal action. Five years later, this month, BBMP is fencing the lake land to protect it and remove encroachments.

The fencing program was inaugurated on 23rd by Gangambika, (INC) Corporator of Jayanagar (Ward 153). “First of all we have to make a border to improve, we are going to make this lake as a tree…

About two years ago, when writer Usha Rajagopalan looked out of her balcony, the view that faced her was that of a vanishing lake called Puttenahalli Kere. As a longtime resident of the apartment complex L&T South City, Usha remembers the lake as a large water body that attracted several kinds of birds once.

See: Kere in crisis

As apartments in the area grew and consequently, a slum started building up, encroachment, waste disposal and activities like bathing and fishing resulted in the lake's water level and quality diminishing rapidly. The lake lies between Puttenahalli in JP Nagar VI Phase, Lakshmi…

According to the Wikipedia article , in the 1960s the number of tanks and lakes was 280 and less than 80 remained by 1993 and 67 are now remaining. Various factors have lead to this: several of these lakes have been officially developed by the government into layouts etc. and several have been encroachment by slums…

'The Lost Lakes of Bangalore' is a project to document Bengaluru’s many tanks and lakes which have vanished with urbanisation and growth. As part of this project India Water Portal is organising a contest for schools and colleges to document this aspect of Bengaluru's history.

Various factors have lead to a decline in the number of lakes in Bengaluru. These lakes have been officially developed by the government into layouts and several have been encroached by slums and private parties. Many people may not be aware that Majestic Bus Station was once a tank! Land use changes have resulted in reduced…

Her eyes well-up as she speaks about the notice she received from the Karnataka Forest Department dated September 1st 2009, informing her that her house is illegal as it is on forest land. She was to appear in court on September 14th with all her property documents, as per the notice.

Forty-year-old Baby Saroja is a resident of the Rajiv Gandhi Nagar Slum in Devasandra, Krishnarajapuram Hobli, of East Bengaluru. This area falls under Ward No. 51 - Vignanapura. The slum is crammed with tiny houses – mould, thatched and tiled roofs can be found, and water flows through the cracks…

Her eyes well-up as she speaks about the notice she received from the Karnataka Forest Department dated September 1st 2009, informing her that her house is illegal as it is on forest land. She was to appear in court on September 14th with all her property documents, as per the notice.

Forty-year-old Baby Saroja is a resident of the Rajiv Gandhi Nagar Slum in Devasandra, Krishnarajapuram Hobli, of East Bangaluru. This area falls under Ward No. 51 - Vignanapura. The slum is crammed with tiny houses – mould, thatched and tiled roofs can be found, and water flows through the cracks…