The Request states that the Bank-financed Karnataka Water Security and Resilience Program (P506272) is supporting the construction of two Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in what they consider to be ecologically significant wetland areas in or around the lake wetland areas of Saul Kere and Hulimavu located within Karnataka State’s capital city Bengaluru, India.
A sub-group of Requesters from around the Saul Kere lake wetland area state that these areas/lakes are biodiversity hotspots with thriving wetland flora and fauna, and that seasonal water-level fluctuations are essential to preserving their ecological integrity. In their view, the proposed 28 Million Liters per Day (MLD) STP within Saul Kere would effectively turn the lake into a reservoir of treated, biologically inert water, undermining the wetland conditions on which the ecosystem depends.
Another sub-group of Requesters from Hulimavu Lake are concerned that a 15 MLD STP is proposed within a recently restored wetland, despite the presence of an existing operational 10 MLD STP already on site. They claim the lake supports more than 168 documented local and migratory bird species.
All Requesters allege that the STPs are being developed without adequate assessment of alternative sites. They state that options such as expanding the existing facility and transparently evaluating non-wetland locations have neither been disclosed nor pursued. They raise concerns about the Program's compliance with domestic regulatory requirements.
The Federation of Bengaluru Lakes (FBL) raises broader systemic concerns, pointing to what it describes as a 'material disconnect’ between the Program's stated results framework, set out in a March 2025 Technical Assessment, and implementation on the ground. Specifically, FBL cites insufficient engagement with citizen stakeholders and independent experts with hydrological and ecological expertise. The Requesters allege that no meaningful consultation has taken place, and this is inconsistent with the participatory planning and stakeholder engagement commitments reflected in the Program's Disbursement-Linked Indicators.
All three groups who have submitted this Request have asked the Inspection Panel to examine whether the Program's implementation, particularly the need and siting of the STPs within what they consider to be ecologically sensitive lake wetlands, is consistent with the World Bank's Environmental and Social Standards, the Program's Results Framework, and the applicable environmental law of India.
The Panel is currently reviewing the admissibility of the Request in accordance with its mandate and Operating Procedures.
