"Government’s move to shrink buffer zone is a criminal assault on ecology," says AAP leader
Bengaluru: In a dramatic and urgent appeal that could redefine the battle for Bengaluru’s environmental survival, Aam Aadmi Party’s Working President Sitaram Gundappa has raised a red flag over the threats looming large on the historic Tippagondanahalli (T.G. Halli) reservoir, one of the oldest and most vital water sources for the city.
Situated just a few kilometres from Bengaluru, the T.G. Halli reservoir, constructed in 1933 on the Arkavathi river, once supplied water to half the city and holds a storage capacity of 1.07 TMC. However, the reservoir now stands on the brink of ecological collapse due to years of unabated environmental abuse.
"The T.G. Halli reservoir is dying every day. From illegal sand and stone mining to industrial effluents, from unchecked sewage from Bengaluru to reckless quarrying and Nilgiri monoculture plantations, this reservoir has suffered decades of brutality," Sitaram Gundappa told News Flash during his visit to the site.
Buffer Zone Reduced: A Dangerous Government Move?
The situation escalated after the Forest Minister recently announced the reduction of the reservoir's eco-sensitive buffer zone from 500 meters to a shockingly narrow 30 meters, a move which Gundappa and environmental activists have slammed as suicidal.
"This is not just environmental negligence, it’s a deliberate handover of our natural lifeline to real estate vultures," thundered Gundappa. "Shrinking the buffer zone will increase pollution, destroy biodiversity, and permanently disrupt the Arkavathi’s natural flow."
The buffer zone acts as a critical shield, ensuring that harmful urban sprawl, waste disposal, and industrial activity do not encroach upon the reservoir’s fragile ecosystem. Reducing it will inevitably result in reduced rainwater inflow, loss of flora and fauna, and permanent damage to river recharge systems.
Call for Immediate Action
Gundappa demanded that the buffer zone reduction be reversed without delay, warning of mass protests in collaboration with local farmers and environmental groups. The revival of the Arkavathi river, which feeds the reservoir, is another top demand on AAP’s agenda.
"The government is selling our ecological future for short-term real estate profits. We will not allow it. The buffer zone must remain intact, and the Arkavathi must be revived," Gundappa declared firmly.
He was joined by a high-level party delegation, including Shashidhar Aaradhya (former Yeshwanthpur candidate), State Secretary Ravikumar, and grassroots leaders Prasanna, Shanta Mohan, Karthik, Shanta Prakash Manam, and Palani Subrahmanya, who pledged full support to the campaign.
A Wake-Up Call for Bengaluru
The Aam Aadmi Party’s fiery stance is expected to galvanise public opinion in a city already suffering from water crises and rampant urbanisation. The T.G. Halli reservoir, once a proud testament to Bengaluru’s engineering and environmental foresight, is today a symbol of official apathy and corporate greed.
If unchecked, the shrinking buffer zone and the dying river could turn this crucial reservoir into a polluted graveyard of broken environmental promises.
No comments:
Post a Comment