<p>The state government has narrowed the ecological buffer zone around the Arkavathi and Kumudvathi rivers by 50%, in a jolt to protection efforts.</p>.<p>The decision — made days before the government fell — ignores suggestions by the Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) and leaves activists concerned about the water bodies.</p>.<p>“This will lead to rampant urbanisation in the command area and affect rejuvenation,” an activist said.</p>.<p><strong>EMPRI report</strong></p>.<p>EMPRI’s report on the Thippagondanahalli reservoir command area and the buffer zone was submitted in 2015. The institute prepared the report after the government directed it to investigate the issue.</p>.<p>In its 2003 notification, the forest department had banned all construction and non-agricultural activities in the reservoir’s command area. The landowners approached the court, prompting the state government to direct EMPRI for the report.</p>.<p>In the report, the institute asked the government to continue with the forest department’s ban until it sets up an authority to protect the two rivers.</p>.<p>“Any relaxation will lead to (the) mushrooming of layouts and commercial complexes... removing the possibility of the rejuvenation of the rivers,” the report stated.</p>.<p>The government’s decision to cut two kilometres of the buffer zones on either side of the rivers was taken at a meeting chaired by the outgoing Bengaluru Development Minister, G Parameshwara.</p>.<p><strong>Protected area cut</strong></p>.<p>While the one-kilometre protected area in zone 3 was cut to 500 metres, the protected area in zone 4 was brought down from 1 km-2 km to 500 metres. The restriction on industries in zone 4 has also been removed. </p>
<p>The state government has narrowed the ecological buffer zone around the Arkavathi and Kumudvathi rivers by 50%, in a jolt to protection efforts.</p>.<p>The decision — made days before the government fell — ignores suggestions by the Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) and leaves activists concerned about the water bodies.</p>.<p>“This will lead to rampant urbanisation in the command area and affect rejuvenation,” an activist said.</p>.<p><strong>EMPRI report</strong></p>.<p>EMPRI’s report on the Thippagondanahalli reservoir command area and the buffer zone was submitted in 2015. The institute prepared the report after the government directed it to investigate the issue.</p>.<p>In its 2003 notification, the forest department had banned all construction and non-agricultural activities in the reservoir’s command area. The landowners approached the court, prompting the state government to direct EMPRI for the report.</p>.<p>In the report, the institute asked the government to continue with the forest department’s ban until it sets up an authority to protect the two rivers.</p>.<p>“Any relaxation will lead to (the) mushrooming of layouts and commercial complexes... removing the possibility of the rejuvenation of the rivers,” the report stated.</p>.<p>The government’s decision to cut two kilometres of the buffer zones on either side of the rivers was taken at a meeting chaired by the outgoing Bengaluru Development Minister, G Parameshwara.</p>.<p><strong>Protected area cut</strong></p>.<p>While the one-kilometre protected area in zone 3 was cut to 500 metres, the protected area in zone 4 was brought down from 1 km-2 km to 500 metres. The restriction on industries in zone 4 has also been removed. </p>