I am deeply disturbed today as I look around my city, which was once known as the 'City of Lakes and Gardens'. This name seems like a fond memory now, as what I witness is nothing but dust and dryness. Our lakes, once brimming with life, have dried up. Our lush green forests are diminishing, and today, we have no water to drink. This heartbreaking reality is a call for immediate action.

Bengaluru’s lakes, wetlands, and forest lands are rapidly disappearing due to encroachment and unregulated urban expansion. Historically the city had over 1,000 interconnected lakes supporting groundwater recharge, flood control, and local climate stability. Today, a large portion has been filled, fragmented, or built over.

The consequences are already visible: urban flooding, falling groundwater levels, rising temperatures, and severe water insecurity.

Encroachment continues largely because many lake beds, rajakaluves (stormwater channels), and forest boundaries are not physically demarcated on the ground, making illegal occupation easy.

We demand that the Government of Karnataka immediately:

• Conduct a complete survey and physical boundary demarcation of all surviving lakes, wetlands, rajakaluves, and forest lands in the Bengaluru metropolitan region.
• Publish official geospatial maps of these protected boundaries in the public domain.
• Enforce legal protection and buffer zones to prevent future encroachment.
•  Identify and remove existing illegal encroachments.
• Launch a city-wide afforestation initiative to plant native tree species in and around deforested areas.
• Strengthen and enforce waste management laws to prevent toxic dumping in our lakes and natural reserves.

Protecting these ecosystems is essential for Bengaluru’s water security, flood resilience, and long-term habitability.

Immediate action is necessary before the remaining natural systems are permanently lost.

Bangalore, our beautiful city, is facing an environmental crisis. The lakes, that once fulfilled our water needs, have been neglected and contaminated. The forests, which provided us with fresh air and a habitat for numerous species, are being destroyed at a rapid pace due to urbanization and deforestation. This is not just an environmental issue; it's about our survival, our health, and the future of our children.

If immediate corrective measures are not taken, we may face severe water scarcity and health consequences in the near future.

It is crucial that we act now to preserve our environment for future generations. Let us come together as a community, a city, and a society to demand action from our government and hold them accountable.

Sign this petition to urge government officials to implement these necessary changes and save our lakes and forests before it's too late. Together, we can restore Bangalore to its former glory and ensure a healthier, greener future for all its inhabitants.