Sun Dec 28 15:25:30 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a news article based on the provided text:
Headline: Drone Survey Reveals Shocking Extent of Lake Encroachment in Karnataka; Bengaluru Hit Hard
Bengaluru, December 28, 2025 – A comprehensive drone-powered GIS survey of Karnataka’s lakes has revealed a concerning trend: widespread encroachment. Data presented during the recent Karnataka Legislature session shows that a staggering 37% of the state’s lakes have been impacted by encroachment, raising alarm among environmentalists and prompting calls for immediate action.
The survey, conducted by the Department of Survey Settlement and Land Records, identified 41,849 lakes across the state. The highly accurate survey, which is accurate to 5 centrimetres, using a multi-pronged approach incorporating satellite imagery, drone technology, and traditional on-ground surveys, found that 15,048 of these lakes have been encroached upon, impacting 45,046 acres 33 guntas.
Bengaluru Urban (88%), Bengaluru Rural (90%), and Bengaluru South (57%) districts are the worst affected, with a large portion of their lakes under illegal occupation. Yadgir, Kalaburagi, and Udupi districts have fared the best in lake protection. Other districts such as Mysuru, Mandya, Tumakuru, Davangere, Ballari, and Chikkamagaluru, have almost half of their lakes impacted by encroachment.
J. Manjunath, Commissioner of the Department of Survey Settlement and Land Records, emphasized the significance of the survey in creating the first centralized database of all lakes in the state. “This will give us one of the most accurate status of the lake today,” Manjunath added.
V. Ramprasad of Friends of Lakes, a coalition of lake conservation activists, expressed particular concern over the high encroachment rate in Bengaluru Rural district. “As urbanized Bengaluru is spreading horizontally, lakes in Bengaluru Rural and South districts are also under serious threat,” he warned.
Friends of Lakes has urged the government to make the survey data, including detailed maps, publicly accessible to ensure transparency and accountability in addressing the encroachment issue.
Responding to questions in the legislature, Minister for Minor Irrigation N.S. Boseraju highlighted the existence of a State-level apex committee, led by the Principal Secretary of the Revenue Department, tasked with guiding lake rejuvenation, conservation, and encroachment clearance efforts. District-level committees, headed by Deputy Commissioners, are similarly responsible for clearing encroachments.
The government says all custodian departments have been asked to update encroachment status updates in a centralized database.
First Piper 