Order of the National Green Tribunal regarding lake pollution in Bangalore, 18/12/2019
Order of the National Green Tribunal in the matter of Court on its own Motion Applicant Vs State of Karnataka dated 18/12/2019 regarding remedial action for restoration of Bellandur, Agara and Varthur lakes at Bangalore – preventing discharge and dumping of pollutants, removing encroachments from catchment area and other steps for restoration.
The NGT refused to extend the timelines for execution of projects for setting up of STPs and laying of sewerage network and warned that if the work remained incomplete even after September 30, 2020, then compensation would be recovered from erring officers at the rate of @ Rs. 10 lakh per STP per month. Further, Bangaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) has been asked to ensure that no sewage/effluent is discharged into the lakes and till setting up of STPs, interim remediation must be done forthwith. And default in the matter would mean payment of "compensation of Rs. 5 lakh per month per per inlet into the lakes from 01.02.2020."Encroachments should be removed even using "force wherever necessary" and the lakes desilted and deweeded.