Karnataka Governor returns KTCDA Amendment Bill 2025, seeks clarification from authorities on buffer zone round water our bodies

Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has returned the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025, searching for clarification from the State Government on its proposal to scale back the scale of buffer zones for smaller water our bodies. The Bill was handed within the  monsoon session of the Karnataka legislature.

Mr. Gehlot stated that he has acquired objections from the Bengaluru Town Hall affiliation with request to present his assent to the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

As per the Bill, the buffer zone is sought to be eliminated for tanks unfold throughout lower than 5 guntas whereas setting a three-metre buffer for tanks with an space between 5 guntas and one acre, six metres for tanks between one acre and ten acres, 13 metres for tanks between 10 acres and 25 acres, 24 metres for tanks between 25 acres and 100 acres, and 30 metres for tanks which might be greater than 100 acres.

For major canals, the federal government has proposed to deliver down the buffer zone from the present 30 metres to fifteen metres. And for secondary canals from 15 metres to 10 metres and for tertiary canals from 10 metres to 5 metres.

Mr. Gehlot advised the federal government, “As per the professional’s opinion, the present lake buffer zone of 30 meters is itself inadequate, and the true requirement is almost 300 meters to attain ecosystem steadiness. If something, the buffer zone ought to be elevated, not decreased.” He added that the federal government had not consulted an professional committee and other people concerning the implication of this modification.

“It is in violation of the Constitution and settled legislation, and is dangerous for each citizen, impacts the citizen’s proper to water safety and a wholesome surroundings,” he stated.

It is critical to get clarifications from the State Government concerning the points raised by Bengaluru Town Hall and ‘additionally know whether or not this modification will lead to a very adversarial impact’, he acknowledged whereas returning the file to the federal government and directing it to re-submit the file together with clarifications.

Bengaluru Town Hall acknowledged that the affiliation is happy to study that the Governor has returned the modification, which, it claims, ‘threatens the 45,000 lakes in Karnataka’.

“That the State Government may so frivolously try to make amendments which have such large-scale apocalypse-like penalties for each nature and the inhabitants of the State reveals that the federal government shouldn’t be working within the pursuits of the folks of the State. This wants to alter instantly. The authorities must be held accountable,“ stated Sandeep Anirudhan, convenor for Bengaluru Town Hall.