Stop the encroachments. Scrap the illegal road. Restore the lake.

Pattandur Agrahara Lake in Whitefield, Bengaluru, is under serious threat.

A historic lake that has existed for centuries has been progressively encroached upon, degraded and abused. Its lakebed, buffer zone and storm-water channels have been subjected to encroachments and illegal construction, while a government road project has threatened to further damage the lake and its catchment.

The State has known about the problem for decades. Citizens have protested, petitioned, approached the courts and repeatedly demanded action.

We have waited long enough. The government must now act.

OUR DEMANDS
We demand that the Government of Karnataka, BDA, GBA and other competent authorities:

• Immediately protect, reclaim and restore Pattandur Agrahara Lake.
• Amend the RMP 2015 Land Use Maps to correctly show the lake in the ELU and PLU maps, and cancel the road project from Varthur Kodi Road (SH-35) to ITPL Main Road which violates the lake and lake-buffer-zone protections.
• Identify, clear and prevent all encroachments and illegal constructions in the lake and its buffer zone.
• Identify and clear all encroachments and violations affecting the rajakaluve and its buffer zone.
• Survey and restore the northern rajakaluve as shown in historical/revenue records, including its re-inclusion in the revenue maps and protection of its buffer zone.
• Correct all illegal diversions of the rajakaluve and restore the natural storm-water flow.

A LAKE THAT HAS BEEN SYSTEMATICALLY DESTROYED
Pattandur Agrahara Lake is a historic water body in Whitefield, Bengaluru.

• The lake was allegedly grabbed through fraudulent means approximately four decades ago, including reliance on a disputed Land Tribunal Order. The State has made attempts over the years to recover the lake, but prolonged litigation, administrative failures and alleged collusion with encroachers have allowed the problem to continue.
• In 2018, following sustained citizen action and government legal proceedings, the Karnataka High Court set aside the disputed Land Tribunal Order, restoring the status quo in relation to the lake property.
• However, the larger dispute has continued.
• The State subsequently initiated proceedings concerning the alleged fraud. The issue of fraud has not yet been adjudicated on merits.
• Namma Whitefield has now filed Writ Appeal No. WA 2017/2025, challenging the dismissal of the State's proceedings, and the State of Karnataka has also filed WA 1861/2026. Both matters are pending before the Karnataka High Court.
• The legal battle cannot become an excuse for the government to abandon the lake.
• While the litigation continues, the lake is being destroyed on the ground.

 
THE LAKE IS IN A PATHETIC CONDITION
Over the years, the lake has been progressively degraded.

Among the violations and threats are:

• Illegal constructions within the lake area.
• Dumping of garbage and construction and demolition waste.
• Filling and degradation of portions of the water body.
• Encroachments and violations in the lake buffer zone.
• Illegal or unauthorised construction around the lake.
• Diversion and encroachment of the rajakaluve.
• Illegal tree-felling and destruction of vegetation.
• New fencing and other activities by persons claiming the encroached land.
• Failure of authorities to adequately protect the lake while litigation continues.
• A lake that should be a functioning ecological and water-management asset has been reduced to a severely degraded water body.

This is not restoration. This is abandonment.

 
THE ILLEGAL ROAD PROJECT THAT THREATENS THE LAKE

• The lake faces another major threat: the proposed road connecting Varthur Kodi Road (SH-35) to ITPL Main Road, passing through the Holy Cross and Athashri Road areas.
• The problem begins with the RMP 2015 Land Use Map, in which Pattandur Agrahara Lake was not correctly represented, while a proposed 80-foot road was shown through the area.
• The proposed alignment affects the lake and its protected buffer areas and also raises serious concerns regarding the rajakaluve and its buffer.
• Thankfully, the draft RMP 2031 corrected this mistake.
• The lake has been shown in the Land Use Maps and the proposed road has been removed.

So why is the government still pursuing the road?

• Despite the corrected planning position and strong public opposition, BBMP authorities subsequently issued notifications and attempted to proceed with the road project.
• In August 2021, another notification was issued for land acquisition, with a modified alignment.
• The supposed "modification" did not solve the problem.
• The alignment was moved away from the lakebed and into the lake buffer zone.
• Moving an illegal road from the lakebed into its protected buffer does not make it legal.

CITIZENS HAVE FOUGHT THIS ROAD FOR YEARS
Residents of Whitefield have repeatedly opposed this project.

• When BBMP issued its public notification in 2017, thousands of residents mobilised.
• In 2018, more than 1,000 residents signed and submitted a detailed objection to the proposed road to BBMP and other authorities.
• More than 5,000 residents participated in public protests in 2017 and 2018.
• A third mass protest was held on 5 June 2022 — World Environment Day.

Residents pointed out that:

• The project would damage the lake and its ecosystem.
• It would violate lake and buffer-zone protections.
• It would destroy green and catchment areas.
• It would increase congestion and development pressure.
• Existing roads already provide multiple alternative routes.
• Public money should instead be spent maintaining and improving the existing road network.
• Affected parties, including St Joseph's School, challenged the project in court. Namma Whitefield also initiated legal proceedings.

 
BBMP ATTEMPTED TO PROCEED WITH THE ROAD

• Despite the objections, road formation works commenced in October 2021.
• Citizens documented the work and raised the issue publicly.
• Namma Whitefield approached the Karnataka High Court and sought intervention concerning the destruction of the lake's buffer and catchment areas.
• Eventually, the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA) intervened.
• On 5 May 2022, KTCDA directed BBMP to stop the work.
• BBMP subsequently halted the road works on 23 May 2022.

But stopping the work is not enough.

• THE PROJECT HAS STILL NOT BEEN PERMANENTLY CANCELLED.
  There have continued to be efforts relating to land acquisition for the project, including land belonging to St Joseph's School, which has challenged the acquisition and obtained a stay.
• A project that threatens a protected lake should not merely be "stopped" temporarily. It must be cancelled permanently.

 
WHY IS THE GOVERNMENT STILL PURSUING THIS ROAD?
The proposed road is unnecessary.

• There are already multiple alternative road connections between the proposed origin and destination within the surrounding area.
• At a time when Bengaluru is struggling with disappearing lakes, groundwater depletion, flooding and environmental degradation, it is irrational to destroy a lake's ecological buffer to create yet another road when alternatives exist.
• A road through a lake buffer is not development.
• It is destruction disguised as infrastructure.

 
THE LAW PROTECTS THE LAKE
The proposed road and other activities around Pattandur Agrahara Lake raise serious concerns under multiple legal and regulatory protections, including:

• BBMP's circular dated 8 June 2020, concerning restrictions on roads and construction within 30 metres of lake boundaries.
• BBMP's circular dated 19 March 2019 requiring compliance with applicable NGT directions concerning lake and rajakaluve buffer zones.
• Government of Karnataka directions dated 11 August 2021 concerning protection and clearance of constructions in lake buffer zones.
• The Karnataka High Court's directions concerning protection of lakes and water bodies.
• The RMP 2015 zoning regulations, under which the lake buffer is a no-development zone.
• The applicable NGT directions concerning lake buffer zones.
• The Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority Act.
• Applicable wetland protection provisions and judicial directions concerning the ecological integrity of water bodies.
• Regulations protecting rajakaluves and their buffer zones.
• The RMP 2015 regulations specifically provide for a 30-metre no-development buffer around lakes, as per revenue records, subject to the applicable exceptions.

The proposed road also raises serious concerns because historical records, including the 1876 village map, indicate the presence of a rajakaluve in the affected area.

Government agencies cannot selectively apply planning and environmental laws when vested interests are involved.

 
THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT ONE LAKE
Bengaluru's lakes are interconnected ecological and drainage systems.

Pattandur Agrahara Lake is part of the area's natural drainage and water-management system. Its lakebed, catchment, rajakaluve and buffer zones cannot be treated as disposable land parcels.

Whitefield is already under enormous development pressure.

Groundwater has been severely depleted. Water demand continues to rise. Flooding and drainage problems are recurrent. Green spaces and natural drainage channels are disappearing.

Destroying the ecological infrastructure that remains will only make these problems worse.

Once a lake, catchment or rajakaluve is destroyed, it cannot simply be recreated on paper.

 
THE STATE MUST PROTECT THE LAKE WHILE THE CASES ARE PENDING
The ongoing litigation over the ownership and alleged fraudulent acquisition of the lake cannot justify inaction.

The State has a duty to protect the water body, prevent further encroachment and preserve the lake for future restoration.

Instead, violations have continued.

The lake remains inadequately protected. Encroachments remain. Illegal constructions remain. Garbage and debris continue to threaten the water body. The rajakaluve has been encroached upon and diverted.

And new development continues around the lake.

Every month of inaction makes restoration more difficult and more expensive.

 
WHAT MUST HAPPEN NOW
We call upon the Government of Karnataka, GBA/BBMP, BDA, Revenue Department, KTCDA and other competent authorities to immediately:

1. SECURE THE LAKE
Conduct a legally valid survey, demarcate the lake boundary and buffer zone on the ground and protect the entire area from further encroachment.

2. PROTECT THE RAJAKALUVE
Survey and demarcate the northern rajakaluve using historical and revenue records, including the 1876 village map, restore it in the revenue records and protect its buffer zone.

3. REMOVE ENCROACHMENTS
Evict and remove illegal constructions and encroachments from the lake, lake buffer zone, rajakaluve and rajakaluve buffer zone, following due process of law.

4. RESTORE THE LAKE
Prepare a scientifically sound Detailed Project Report (DPR) for restoration and revival of the lake, its catchment and drainage system.

5. FENCE THE LAKE
Complete the survey and permanently fence the legally demarcated lake boundary.

The Government announced a ₹1 crore grant in June 2022 for surveying and fencing the lake. The promised protection must actually be implemented.

6. RESTORE THE NATURAL DRAINAGE
Identify and reverse illegal rajakaluve diversions and restore the natural flow into and through the lake system.

7. FUND AND EXECUTE THE RESTORATION
Allocate the necessary funds and begin restoration without further delay.

Citizens are even willing to explore CSR support for restoration.

But the first responsibility for protecting a public water body lies with the State.

 
WE HAVE WAITED FOR MORE THAN 40 YEARS
For approximately four decades, the people of Whitefield have watched a historic lake being encroached upon and degraded.

Citizens have protested.

They have filed petitions.

They have approached government departments.

They have gone to court.

They have documented violations.

They have repeatedly asked authorities to enforce their own laws.

And yet the lake remains unprotected.

Enough is enough.

The government must stop treating Pattandur Agrahara Lake as an expendable piece of real estate.

It must protect the lake, reclaim the encroached areas, restore the rajakaluve and permanently scrap the road project that threatens the lake and its buffer.

OUR DEMAND IS SIMPLE:
SAVE PATTANDUR AGRAHARA LAKE.
SCRAP THE ILLEGAL ROAD PROJECT.
CLEAR THE ENCROACHMENTS.
RESTORE THE RAJAKALUVE.
RESTORE THE LAKE.
We have waited 40 years. We will not wait any longer.

SIGN THIS PETITION
Stand with the residents of Whitefield and citizens of Bengaluru in demanding that the Government of Karnataka protect and restore Pattandur Agrahara Lake.

SAVE PATTANDUR AGRAHARA LAKE. RESTORE IT NOW.

 
FOLLOW THE CAMPAIGN
Facebook: @SavePattandurAgraharaLake
X/Twitter: @PattandurLake
Instagram: @SavePattandurAgraharaLake

Petition: change.org/SavePattandurAgraharaLake

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SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN
If you would like to support this campaign and other civic/environmental legal battles, you can contribute to the campaign fundraiser: https://www.raisefree.com/c/asafa3zubab