Report on removal of encroachments and development of biodiversity parks, Bellandur and Varthur lake, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 14/05/2020
Affidavit filed on behalf of Urban Development, Department, Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) and the Minor Irrigation Department in the matter of Court on its own motion Vs State of Karnataka.
The report mentions the various compliances made by the Bangalore Development Authority, the Urban Development Authority and the Minor Irrigation Department in adherence to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) order of December 18, 2019.
The court had ordered for the:
- Eviction of slum dwellers who had encroached upon Bellandur Lake,
- Fencing of Bellandur lake,
- Tender for de-silting of Bellandur lake and Varthur lake and
- Development of wetland and biodiversity parks.
The report informed the Tribunal that the aforementioned works had been executed by the various departments of the state government and that the said works were at various stages of execution.
Out of 228 slum dwellers, 128 had been evicted by the Karnataka Slum Development Board and allotted flats constructed by the Karnataka Slum Development Board. The remaining 100 slum dwellers would be evicted after the "vacation of interim relief" granted by the Karnataka High Court.
Likewise, BDA had completed fencing of Bellandur lake except the 464 acres of land, which lies in the defence area.
Desilting work in Bellandur and Varthur lake had started from March 23, 2020. However, the report said that the scope of desilting work depended on the outcome of the analysis of soil samples. These samples were being in the process of being tested by the KSPCB and then only the resultant protocol would be decided upon for disposal of the excavated sludge/silt.
The BDA has submitted to the NGT Monitoring Committee a proposal on the development of wetlands and biodiversity parks.
The Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban had identified the quarry at Vitsandraand Mylasandra villages in Bangalore South, which was 25 kms away from the lake area. The quarry had been handed over to BDA for depositing the silt and sludge. "The treatment of the quarry for depositing the sludge will be taken up after finalizing the protocol by KSPCB and CPCB," the report said. Note: The report of May 14, 2020 was uploaded to the NGT site on July 31, 2020