Over the past two years, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), which is the custodian of lakes in the city, has not renewed any maintenance Memorandums of Understanding that it had with various citizens’ groups and a few non-governmental organisations. With no MoUs currently in place, citizens’ groups that were once maintaining the lakes are strapped for funds.
The MoUs have not been renewed as the High Court of Karnataka is hearing a public interest litigation plea on the issue. Recently, the court directed the Government to wait for further orders in the case before signing or executing any MoU with private corporate entities.
Annapurna Kamath from Jalaposhan, a citizens’ group that has been active in the maintenance of Jakkur lake, said that their MoU with the BBMP lapsed in 2020. “Following the outbreak of the pandemic, the CSR (corporate social responsibility) funding was cut down,” she said.
