Bengaluru: Karnataka govt has proposed standardised buffer-zone regulations for lakes and drains in local planning areas across the state, excluding GBA, BDA, BMRDA and BMICAPA areas.The urban development department has published draft amendments to the zoning regulations of approved master plans, inviting public objections and suggestions to be submitted by Nov 8.The proposed regulations also permit certain infrastructure within buffer zones, including sewage treatment plants, intermediate sewage pumping stations and wet wells, sewage networks, water-supply lines, roads, bridges and electrical lines with associated works.Under the proposed rules, buffer zones around lakes and tanks would vary according to their extent, ranging from zero metres for water bodies measuring up to 0.05 acre to 30 metres for those spread across more than 100 acres.Lakes and tanks measuring above 0.05 acre and up to 0.1 acre would have a one-metre buffer, while those measuring above 0.1 acre and up to one acre would have a three-metre buffer. The proposed buffer would be six metres for water bodies above one acre and up to 10 acres, 12 metres for those above 10 acres and up to 25 acres, and 24 metres for those above 25 acres and up to 100 acres.For stormwater drains, the draft proposes buffers of 15 metres on either side of primary drains, 10 metres for secondary drains and five metres for tertiary drains. The draft also states that permissions in sensitive areas earmarked in the land-use plan can be considered only by the relevant authority.
