Sandeep Anirudhan explains why this bill is not just flawed, but potentially catastrophic for the environment and future of the city.
Published Oct 02, 2025 | 9:34 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 02, 2025 | 9:34 AM
Let's talk water. (Supplied)
In this episode of Let’s Talk Water, Sandeep Anirudhan, convenor of the Bengaluru Town Hall Movement explains to host Nolan Pinto the finer details of the controversial KTCDA Amendment Bill 2025, which sought to drastically reduce the lake buffer zones in Karnataka, in some cases to zero meters.
The move sparked widespread public outrage, protests at Freedom Park, expert opposition, and was eventually not signed by the Governor of Karnataka, halting its immediate enactment.
Sandeep Anirudhan explains why this bill is not just flawed, but potentially catastrophic for the environment and future of the city.
Speaking about buffer zones across the world, Sandeep asks, “What we have in our zoning laws is only 30 meters. Give me one good reason when a city like Bengaluru is almost on its deathbed, why would the government bring in a regulation that would choke it further and kill it quicker.”
He explains how the buffer zone, a critical ecological safeguard around lakes and wetlands, serves three vital purposes:
Sandeep warned that the current 30-meter buffer is already insufficient, and must be increased to at least 100–300 meters, not reduced.
“To even consider a legislation of this much consequence, it would be apocalyptical consequences for the state. To do something this major, they should have had extensive studies,” he added.
Sandeep also highlights procedural concerns:
“This brings up the real question of accountability of our legislators. At least in the Centre, we have a policy of pre-legislative public consultations. Why doesn’t the state government have one such? This goes completely against the whole idea of representative democracy because we want to know what our representatives are doing and what is the basis for those actions. It affects us directly,” he says.
Adding to that, Sandeep says, “There should have had a public consultation. It is also the manner in which it was rushed. Cabinet passes the amendment with no study, no research. Basically, what we are given to understand is there is a lot of pressure on government from the real estate interests to build roads in the buffer zones.”
While the Governor’s refusal to sign the bill is seen as a temporary win, Sandeep warns that the fight isn’t over.
“We are already ready. In case the bill is passed into a law, we are already ready to go to the courts. We have got our lawyers ready, we have the petitions ready. We have learnt from our previous experiences, so we do not waste any time.”
He also gave suggestions as to how citizens can play a role to safeguard Karnataka’s lakes.
“First make sure your opposition to the bill is clearly recorded. Write to the chief minister, Governor, to your MLAs and any department that is dealing with lakes because central and state laws are being impinged upon by this.”
“Writing this letter expresses to all the stakeholders that there is serious opposition and that it is not a fair law to make. Secondly, if you wish to go to the courts tomorrow, these become necessary that you have already approached the government.”
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
