Plea in Karnataka HC against ‘Cauvery Aarti’ at Sankey tank

A city-based advocate on Tuesday filed an application before the High Court of Karnataka alleging that provisions of the law related to use of buffer zones of tanks will be violated by organising ‘Cauvery Aarti’, scheduled to be held at Sankey tank on March 21.

Citing media reports on the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board’s preparations on the tank premises, he requested a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice M.I. Arun to list the plea against ‘Cauvery Aarti’ for urgent hearing.

Advocate G.R. Mohan mentioned before the Bench that the application filed by petitioner Geetha Misra in 2019 on the issue of preservation and maintenance of lakes, is pending for final adjudication along with other PIL petitions on issues related to lake before the court.

Use of buffer zone

The advocate orally told the Bench that the petitioner is not opposing performance of ‘Cauvery Aarti’ on the lines of ‘Ganga Aarti’ as such, but is opposing the manner in which the buffer zone of the tank is being used for putting up various temporary constructions to conduct the proposed event in violation of law.

The manner in which the tank’s buffer zone is being used is contrary to the provisions of the Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority Act, the advocate told the Bench, while complaining that the activities, including the proposed cultural events, would disturb the birds in the tank zone.