Legal Framework For Buffer Zones Around Tanks And Nalas Under KTCDA Act, 2014.

Historically, under The Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Act (2014), Karnataka adopted a uniform 30 metre buffer around lake/tank boundaries for restricting construction, commercial or industrial activity, subject to permissions under Section 12. The blanket norm was broadly aligned with National Court Orders and environmental practice and applied irrespective of the size or context of the waterbody.

Over time, the stake holders from Karnataka especially from areas with small tanks, began to point out that a rigid 30 metre buffer is disproportionate in many cases example: for very small tanks or ponds, 30 metre might engulf large swathes of useful land, making conservation norms overly burdensome for local communities and other developmental needs.

In 2025, the Government of Karnataka introduced the KTCDA (Amendment) Bill, 2025 to overhaul the buffer regime. The key shift proposed was a size based graded buffer system wherein smaller tanks/lakes would have smaller buffer zones, while very large waterbodies would retain higher buffers (with 30 metre remaining for lakes above 100 acres). Under this scheme, for example, tanks up to (i) 5 Guntas might have zero buffer, (ii) between 5 Guntas and 1 Acre might have 3 metres, (iii) 1–10 Acres would have 6 metres, (iv) 10–25 Acres 12 metre, and (v) 25–100 Acres 24 metre. Alongside, the Bill allows certain “public utility” structures (roads, pipelines, pump houses, etc.) within buffer zones, subject to conditions that they do not reduce tank capacity or interfere with inflow/outflow.

The amendment also proposed revised buffer norms for nalas (storm drains / rajakaluves) wherein (i) primary nalas was proposed to have 15 m (ii) secondary nalas had 10 metre buffers, and (iii) tertiary nalas had 5 metre buffers in order to replace the earlier buffer norms which deemed “unscientific”.

However, the revised Bill did not succeed as the Governor of Karnataka returned the Bill for reconsideration in September 2025, citing inadequate consultation with experts and the public, and expressing concerns that reducing buffer zones might harm ecosystem health.

Thus, as of now, the legal status remains unchanged and the amendment is pending, and the uniform 30 metre buffer continues under the unamended Act.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the shift from a uniform to a graded buffer zone system around tanks under the KTCDA framework introduces several significant risk factors. Chief among these is the potential compromise of ecological and hydrological integrity, particularly for smaller waterbodies that may lose critical protective margins. Reduced buffers increase vulnerability to encroachment, pollution, and urban flooding especially in rapidly developing or densely populated areas. There is also a heightened risk of misclassification or manipulation of tank sizes to exploit relaxed buffer norms, weakening long-term water security and resilience. Furthermore, granting permissions for public utilities within buffer zones, though practical in intent, could open the door to regulatory dilution if not strictly controlled. Without strong oversight, scientific assessment, and legal safeguards, the graded buffer model may unintentionally accelerate the very degradation it seeks to prevent.