Bengaluru’s lakes, once key to the region’s ecology, are rapidly disappearing due to extensive encroachments, and the statistics are alarming.A sweeping digital survey has revealed that 730 out of 837 lakes in Bengaluru Urban have been illegally occupied, consuming a staggering 4,229 acres of public land.
The situation in Bengaluru Rural is even more dire, with 90% of the lakes being illegally occupied. Officials describe this as a water heritage crisis that has developed over decades.The extent of land lost is significant, totalling 4,229 acres. A senior official from revenue department noted that this is apparent when comparing historical maps of water bodies with current images. The findings highlight how illegal constructions, private occupations, and land grabs have severely undermined the city’s water heritage.A staggering 90% of the lakes are marred by encroachments in Bengaluru Urban district. Out of 710 lakes covering 30,000 acres, the survey found 643 lakes have been encroached upon. This trend of lake-related encroachments is also increasing in districts surrounding Bengaluru such as Kolar, Chikkaballapur, Bengaluru South (Ramanagara) and Tumakuru. The highest number of lakes in the state is in Hassan district, which has 6,861 water bodies, of which 2,814 have reported encroachments.Digital-mapping initiativeThe extensive digital-mapping initiative, launched in March 2024 and jointly executed by departments of minor irrigation and state survey, settlement and land records (SSLR), is being praised as one of Karnataka’s most advanced environmental interventions.This initiative marks a significant departure from the state’s longstanding reliance on outdated survey sketches and flawed land records. Utilising drones, satellite imagery, ArcGIS mapping and rover-based ground verification, authorities have created highly accurate and tamper-proof profiles for each lake. Each lake now includes exact GPS coordinates, ownership details, boundaries and high-resolution images. These time-stamped digital files minimise the chances of disputes and leave very little room for encroachers to evade detection.“Digital mapping has enabled us identify illegal encroachments with clear evidence,” said Rajender Kumar Kataria, principal secretary (revenue). “Many old records were either tampered with or misplaced. With digital records, we can expedite the legal process and reclaim public land. We can clearly demonstrate that the land is a lake and not designated for private use,” he added.For decades, legal battles over lakebeds were hindered by conflicting maps and missing documents. However, the new digital dataset is expected to transform courtroom proceedings. Officials believe that clear, authenticated digital evidence will significantly reduce the number of forged claims and help courts resolve cases more swiftly.SSLR commissioner J Manjunath confirmed the survey is nearly complete, stating, “95% of the work is over. Buffer zones have been marked and encroachments identified. This digital survey is crucial for preserving and protecting our lakes. All information is being uploaded onto Web GIS, a centralised digital platform that will serve as an authoritative reference for govt departments. While currently limited to official use, the database will eventually be made available to the public to promote transparency.“Inset – 1Total lakes in Karnataka: 41,849 Total extent of lakes: 7.7 lakh acresNumber of lakes encroached: 14,442Extent of encroachment: 43,307 acres———————————————————— Inset – 2 500-member team executes project A total of 485 personnel are involved in this project. This includes 480 members deployed at the taluk level, with two members assigned to each of 240 taluks to upload lake sketches and update metadata. Additionally, five members at the head office are dedicated to providing technical guidance and support throughout the state.
