Bengaluru: Science and Technology, Minor Irrigation Minister N S Bose Raju on September 14 said that he will explore the possibility of handing over the lakes to Lake Users Cooperative Society Unions for their maintenance.
“I assure you that I will seriously consider your request after discussing it with the legal and technical experts,” Bose Raju said while interacting with the members of the delegation of Lake Users Cooperative Unions led by its President G Nagarajaiah at Vikasa Soudha office here on Thursday.
Senior officials of the Department of Minor Irrigation, and Lake Users organisation from Bidar, Kalburgi, Yadgir, Raichur, Chitradurga and other districts were also present in the meeting.
The delegation suggested that lakes have been under various departments and these need to be brought under the respective lake users Cooperative unions for maintenance suggested.
“We also need to keep in mind the economic empowerment of the Cooperative unions as it was prevailing in the past,” the members of the delegation said.
Minister N S Bose Raju said an authority has been constituted for the development, conservation and maintenance of lakes. “We intend to take up more developmental activities towards conservation of lakes. The Lake Users Cooperative Unions will have a major role in this task of maintaining the quality of lakes,” the Minor Irrigation minister explained.
Minister Bose Raju further emphasised that the main task while maintaining lakes was to conserve biodiversity, ecology and the environment.
“We have plans to make the lake users the proud partners in the development and conservation of lakes. I have directed the officials to prepare a concrete and meaningful action plan towards that end. I will positively consider the suggestions made by the Lake Users Cooperative Unions in this regard,” the Minor Irrigation minister assured.
Former MP of Chitradurga Chandrappa, Former Minister H Anjaneya and other leaders were in the delegation.