Karnataka reclaims 23,983 acres of land by clearing 6,575 lake encroachments

The Karnataka government has intensified its efforts to reclaim encroached water bodies across the state, with data from the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA) revealing that 11,652 lakes have been affected by encroachments. Out of the state's 40,988 lakes, a survey of 30,244 lakes identified that 37,281 acres of land had been illegally occupied.

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As of January 21, authorities have successfully cleared encroachments from 6,575 lakes, reclaiming approximately 23,983 acres. The government now aims to recover the remaining 13,298 acres from 5,077 lakes. Efforts are being closely monitored, with the Chief Minister directing officials to expedite the process.

The state has also undertaken the task of surveying an additional 10,754 lakes, covering 224,344 acres. KTCDA, in coordination with the survey department and other agencies, is expected to complete this assessment soon. District-level committees, led by deputy commissioners, are overseeing the identification and clearance operations.

Among the districts, Hassan (1,533), Shivamogga (1,227), and Mysuru (1,209) have the highest number of encroached lakes, while Yadgir and Kalaburagi have reported the least, with only six encroachments each. Significant progress has been made in these districts, with authorities reclaiming 509 lakes in Hassan, 576 in Shivamogga, and 818 in Mysuru.