Lokayukta pulls up Ramanagara officials over lake pollution, seeks compliance report
The Karnataka Lokayukta has directed the Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner and the Channapatna Tehsildar to take immediate steps to prevent the dumping into the lake and
The Karnataka Lokayukta has directed the Ramanagara Deputy Commissioner and the Channapatna Tehsildar to take immediate steps to prevent the dumping into the lake and the cremation of bodies on the bund of a village lake, warning that continued pollution poses a serious public health risk. The directions came while hearing a complaint filed by K.T. Sudarshan of Kondapura village in Channapatna taluk in 2023. The complainant alleged that a lake in Survey No. 54 of Hunasenahalli village had been encroached upon and that bodies were being cremated on the lake bund, with ash and other remains contaminating the water body used by nearby villages.
During the hearing, the then Channapatna Tehsildar and the Panchayat Development Officer of Kodamballi Gram Panchayat informed the Lokayukta that the encroachment had been cleared and that fencing had been erected around the lake. However, they admitted that cremations on the lake bund had not been stopped as an alternative burial and cremation ground for a particular community was yet to be provided. The then Tehsildar stated that on November 18, 2023, a proposal had been sent to earmark 20 guntas of gomala land in Survey No. 40 of Kodamballi village for a cremation ground.
The proposal, however, was returned with objections and is yet to be finalised. Expressing concern over the delay, the Lokayukta observed that cremations on the lake bund must be stopped immediately, failing which the lake water would continue to be polluted, posing a threat to the health of villagers. Noting that the complaint has remained unresolved since April 2023, the Lokayukta expressed displeasure over the inaction of the district administration. A copy of the order dated July 8, 2026, has been forwarded to the present Channapatna Tehsildar and the Bengaluru South District Deputy Commissioner, directing them to resolve the issue and submit a compliance report before the next hearing.
The matter has been posted for further hearing on August 31, 2026.
The BriefWire