Bengaluru: In a yet another victory for the city’s green activists, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) has dismissed Karnataka’s review petition attempting to reverse the NGT order of December 6, 2018, whereby the State was ordered to deposit Rs 500 crore in an escrow account and a penalty of Rs 75 crore penalty was imposed for degradation of Bellandur Lake. The tribunal said, "Facts and circumstances recorded up to paragraph 14 of the impugned order have revealed gross negligence and lack of seriousness on part of the State and its instrumentalities in dealing with the alarming environmental concern arising out of severe pollution being caused to the precious water bodies in the city of Bengaluru. The Tribunal had perforce appointed a Committee to assess the factual situation and to suggest review of the action plan prepared earlier."
"The report of the Committee that was filed before us substantiated the anxiety of the Tribunal that there was utter failure on the part of the authorities in discharging their responsibilities statutorily cast upon them," the review order further said.
This order was passed after the NGT took suo-motu cognisance after a fire broke out in Bellandur Lake in February 2017 and after Namma Bengaluru Foundation immediately impleaded in the matter. Suresh N.R., Director, Namma Bengaluru Foundation said, "We urge the government to immediately implement the order in letter and spirit."
