The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Privatisation not the way to save lakes’

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Sunday, Apr 27, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Privatisation not the way to save lakes’

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: Privatisation is not the way to protect lakes which are common property resources, H.C. Sharathchandra, chairman of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, has said. He was speaking at the inauguration of a water exposition held here on Saturday. “Lakes cannot be given to private entities merely because they have been in a bad shape. It is the responsibility of the Government to maintain them,” he said.

Three lakes — Hebbal, Nagavara and Vengaiahanakere — had been leased out to companies by the Lake Development Authority, he said.

Gopala Krishne Gowda, chairman of the Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board, said that there was round-the-clock water supply in some areas in three cities in north Karnataka.

To extend the facility to all areas in the cities would mean augmenting the bulk water supply from rivers for which finance and operation efficiency had been key hindering factors, Mr. Gowda added.

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