BJP minister in soup over Shiva idol on lakebed

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court (HC) on Monday issued notices to State Horticulture Minister Munirathna, another BJP member and six officials over the installation of a large Shiva idol on the Mallathahalli lakebed on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.

The others issued notices are Rajarajeshwari (RR) Nagar BJP unit president M Govindaraju, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike engineers Geetha, Basavaraj, Shilpa and C Mrithyunjaya Swamy, and Basavaraj R Kabade, a local BBMP joint commissioner, Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority CEO and BBMP chief engineer (Solid Waste Management).

The division bench of Justice B Veerappa and Rajesh Rai K passed the order in response to an interlocutory application (IA) filed as part of a pending public interest litigation (PIL) regarding encroachment of lakes.

The petitioner Geetha Misra held that the erection of the 35 feet Shiva idol along with “circular concrete structure” amounted to an encroachment. She said the installation of the structure took place for a public function on February 18 despite a representation, adding that civic body officials had been in the wrong as well.

Advocate GR Mohan, representing the petitioner, told the bench that the area which was being “encroached” was in fact set aside for an amphitheater and recreational activities. He added that the lake , which had been surveyed by the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) has an area of around 73 acres with around 4.7 acres was being encroached, according to a HC order, adding that the dumping of debris will further reduce the available area.

“With the help of the MLA of RR Nagar Assembly Constituency, Muniratna, M Govindaraju, BJP President of RR Nagar Assembly Constituency have sought permission to erect a 35 feet tall idol of Lord Shiva on 19-02-2023 on the occasion of Shivaratri and to conduct recreational and entertainment activities on the lake bed of Malathalli Lake,” the petitioner said.

“Govindaraju in connivance with the BBMP and the Lake Development Authority CEO has constructed a huge circular concrete structure in the form of an open air theatre,” he added. This is not the first time the HC has taken cognizance of lake bed encroachments. In July 2021, the court had asked the State government to remove lake encroachments by exercising powers under the Land Revenue Act.