Criminal cases will be filed against encroachers of gram panchayat lakes: Karnataka Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Eshwar Khandre
Karnataka's Rural Development Minister Eshwar Khandre has announced a crackdown on the encroachment of gram panchayat lakes to address the state's severe water scarcity. The government is prioritizing the protection of surface water sources and implementing scientific water budgeting to manage resources.
Why it matters
It addresses the critical intersection of environmental conservation, urban planning, and public policy in a drought-prone region.
Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) Minister Eshwar Khandre has warned that any encroachment on lakes belonging to and maintained by gram panchayats will be cleared and criminal cases will be filed against encroachers.
Speaking to reporters on Friday (September 4), Mr. Khandre said that in Karnataka, there are 32,504 lakes which fall under the jurisdiction of gram panchayats, of which 11,498 lakes had been encroached upon.
He said that encroachments have already been cleared from 6,670 lakes, but remain on 4,828 lakes covering 11,671 acres.
Mr. Khandre, who recently participated in a two-day summit on sustainable water management organised by the Ministry of Jal Shakti in New Delhi, said that it is a major challenge to provide drinking water to rural areas as Karnataka is the second-most drought-prone State in the country, and that groundwater levels are declining by the day.
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