Bengaluru: The high court directed the chief secretary to constitute a committee to protect and manage Sarakki lake in JP Nagar and to ensure removal of encroachments in the buffer zone.A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Poonacha said the committee must include a representative of Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA), deputy commissioner, Bengaluru Urban, a representative of Tank Development Authority and other stakeholders as required. It directed that a nodal officer be appointed from among the committee members.The bench said the govt order constituting the committee must be issued within three weeks. The panel must oversee and ensure that statutory authorities initiate action under the relevant statute to notify persons or entities who put up constructions in the buffer zone, and to take further action in accordance with law to clear or remove encroachments along with other measures to preserve and protect the lake.The committee, through its nodal officer, must send a report to the court within three months on action taken for clearances of unauthorised constructions as well as other measures, the division bench said while disposing of a PIL filed by Sarakki Lake Improvement Trust.In its PIL filed in 2023, the petitioner sought directions to stop illegal constructions at a site situated at Jagruthi Colony, Puttenahalli, JP Nagar 7th Phase.
