Submission by Yelahanka Puttenahalli Lake and Bird Conservation Trust to the NGT on EC granted to gas based combined cycle power plant, 07/10/2021
Written submission by Yelahanka Puttenahalli Lake and Bird Conservation Trust in appeal no. 14 of 2020.
The matter related to environmental clearance granted to gas based combined cycle power plant. The project site is located in the vicinity of Puttenahalli lake, Bengaluru north taluk, Yelahanka Hobli and the lake is part of Yelamallappa Chetty series of lakes in Bengaluru. The Puttenahalli lake is declared as a 'Bird Conservation Reserve' under section 36-A of the Wildlife Act 1972 by the government of Karnataka, April 29, 2015.
The project should be categorized as 'Category B Project' under the EIA Notification 2006 - as it falls within 10 kms radius from a protected area under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 the report said. Further, the project has to be appraised at the central level by the MoEF as 'Category A Project'. Thus, the environmental clearance granted by SEIAA is bad in law.
Public grievance was raised by the people around the project area by writing a letter to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The MoEF&CC, July 30, 2018 directed the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, regional office (southern zone), Bangalore to submit a factual report on the issues of environmental destruction around Yelahnaka Puttenahalli lake and pollution caused due to the establishment of a 350 MW gas based combined cycle power plant by M/s. Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd.
A team of officials visited the spot and submitted a report, October 3, 2018 to the MoEF&CC. The report said that the primary storm water drains (rajkulewas) are blocked and concretised, which is affecting the water supply to sustain the wetland ecosystem.