Persisting Violations in Agara-Bellandur wetlands:

1. The abuse of wetlands with the Construction activities in the valley zone (SEZ by Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB)) of Agara-Bellandur Lake. Wetland was earlier aiding in retaining the rain water, ground water recharge and bioremediation
2. dumping of construction and demolition wastes in the wetland region, (iv) alteration of topography in the region and
3. removal of storm water drains (connecting Agara- Bellandur lakes),
4. construction work in the buffer zones (lake, primary and secondary drains, Rajakaluve);
5. Illegal occupation of Karab lands (public utility lands);
6. narrowing and concretising rajakaluves (connecting Bellandur lake from Agara as well as S T Bed sides)
7. Non-implementation of constructed wetlands  (in the region between Agara – Bellandur lakes)

During the field work on 12 December 2017 (violations are presented with the pictorial evidences in the next section – pages 10 to 15) and 1 May 2017 along with CEO and DCF KLCDA it was observed

1. Continued illegal occupation of wetlands (Valley zone: protected zone as per BDA norms and also wetlands rule 2010, 2016 and KLCDA norm 2015);
2. Dumping of plastics in the storm water drains;
3. Buildings in the wetlands and buffer zones (lakes, raja kaluve, storm water drains);
4. Rajakaluve (storm water drain) connecting Bellandur Lake from city market side is narrowed to 28.5 m against the original width of 60 m (Figure 1) and also violating recent NGT guidelines (of maintaining storm water drains physical integrity as well as maintaining the buffer). This is mainly to help the encroachers of storm water drains while bypassing NGT’s guidelines of storm water drain buffer regions
5. Concretisation of storm water drains – this would affect the hydrological functional ability of storm water drains – ground water recharge, remediation and flood mitigation
6. Concretization and narrowing the drains has only enhanced the flooding in the city, observed recently (15th August 2017, 24th August 2017).
7. implications of concretization: Impaired Ecosystem Functions - bioremediation and groundwater recharge (but maximization of benefits to consultants with frequent floods)
8. Para state agencies (BDA  and BBMP) while wasting the public money has made Bangalore landscape vulnerable with frequent floods.
9. Continued inflow of untreated sewage (due to inefficient BWSSB and nearby localities) and industrial effluents.
10. Continued encroachments and illegal occupation of lake bed and flood plains.

Frequent flooding in the region is a consequence of mismanagement of wetlands,  narrowing Rajakaluves (storm water drain) and the removal of first and second order drains. Irrational decision of SEZ in wetlands has enhanced the flooding episodes in the region and citizens are now vulnerable to recurring flooding hazards (with increased precipitation and associated factors). CITIZEN ARE PAYING (WITH THE DAMAGES TO PROPERTIES AND LOSS OF LIFE) FOR IRRATIONAL DECISIONS OF DECISION MAKERS.