Karnataka to clear lake encroachments, install green fencing ahead of Vanamahotsava

Karnataka Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh on Monday announced that all lake encroachments across the state will be removed and green fencing installed within the next two months. The initiative is set to be carried out in a campaign mode involving revenue and allied departments.

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

Speaking at a state-level workshop on geospatial applications at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Rajneesh urged officials from 31 districts to act swiftly and collaboratively in preparation for Vanamahotsava, the annual tree-planting festival. "This is both a request and a directive. Green fencing will help protect the lakes, and this should be done in coordination with the community. It’s not just about implementing schemes, but about finding creative solutions," she stated.

Rajneesh cited the example of Kalaghatagi in Dharwad, where local departments successfully desilted a river by collaborating with JCB machine owners and offering diesel support. This led to the launch of the community-driven initiative ‘Kere Sanjeevani’, which later saw NGO involvement.

She stressed the importance of such interdepartmental coordination across the state to ensure lakes and rivers are desilted before the onset of the monsoon, thereby enhancing water catchment capacity. “Let’s learn from these models and scale them across Karnataka,” she urged.

The Chief Secretary’s remarks underline the state’s push towards sustainable water body conservation ahead of the planting season.