The East India Hotels Ltd (Oberois) have entered into a contract with the LDA under the Private Public Partnership Model for the maintenance of Bangalore's heritage Hebbal Tank based on a lease period of 15 years - extendable by 10 years. The lease fee is Rs. 4000/acre/year and the Oberois would get total control over the 150 acres tank, based on some very weakly drafted conditions - that violate most social, ecological and economic principles. The plan that the Oberois have put out is completely ridden with proposals that will render a live ecosystem that sustains a variety of livelihood and recreational options to a highly commercialised water theme park.

There has been widespread concern in Bangalore over this transaction as it follows on an equally disastrous agreement with Lumbini Construction company that has already commercialised Nagawara Tank.

These water bodies are critical to the water security of the city, and vestigial remains of hundreds of such tanks that were built over hundreds of years to harvest rain and sustain human settlements. Their role continues to be critical in a city that is highly stressed for water and open space.

What happens to these tanks in Bangalore are viewed as a model for the country as a whole. The present move of the LDA must be viewed in this light therefore.