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Federation of Bengaluru Lakes (FBL), a conjugation of water communities successful Bengaluru, has written to the World Bank Group, raising interest implicit what they termed “a worldly disconnect betwixt the stated results model and existent implementation practice” successful the works pertaining to lakes and Storm Water Drains (SWD) successful Bengaluru, it is funding. The Hindu has a transcript of the missive dated May 31.
The World Bank is backing Karnataka Water Security and Resilience Programme (KWSRP), aimed astatine flood mitigation and gathering clime resilience successful Bengaluru. While the World Bank is backing astir ₹3,500 crore, the State authorities is contributing astir ₹1,500 crore. Reinforcement of the SWDs, water bunds, installation of sluice gates, etc., are being taken up nether the project.
“Our tract monitoring, photographic evidence, and hydrological surveys, which tin beryllium made disposable for autarkic review, bespeak that respective existent plan decisions whitethorn beryllium inconsistent with the programme’s stated objectives and with the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017,” the FBL stated successful the letter, dated May 31.
Three concerns
It flags 3 concerns: concrete-heavy engineering, hydrological discontinuity and buffer portion encroachment.
The FBL stated portion the World Bank’s method appraisal prioritises nature-based solutions, existent contracts for astatine slightest 12 lakes reportedly necessitate factual lining of bunds and inlets. “This attack whitethorn trim groundwater recharge, harm riparian habitat, and make lasting ecological harm,” the FBL said.
“Alterations to earthy SWDs and inlets disrupt the cascading water system. This whitethorn summation alternatively than trim downstream flood risk, which would beryllium contrary to the flood-management nonsubjective of the programme,” the missive further stated.
Further, the FBL flagged that it had observed operation enactment successful the regulated buffer zones of astatine slightest 5 lakes, including areas that relation arsenic breeding habitats for migratory vertebrate taxon connected the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. “This raises a interest nether the Wetlands Rules, 2017,” it said.
The FBL’s missive besides alleged that citizen-impacted stakeholders and domain experts with long-standing hydrological and ecological cognition look to beryllium excluded from plan and monitoring processes. It demands inclusion of civic groups into the KWSRP’s governance, monitoring, and verification mechanisms.
The FBL has received a effect from the World Bank’s Programme Task Team Leaders for KWSRP, which said, “We are reviewing the issues you person raised and volition travel up with the applicable authorities counterparts liable for programme implementation,” adding that they would supply a much elaborate effect erstwhile they person gathered capable accusation connected the matters raised.
Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao said the missive was not addressed to him, and helium would respond if the issues were raised.
