Bengaluru: The National Green Tribunal which is closely monitoring the revival of Bellandur Lake is unhappy with the progress made in cleaning the lake and preventing fires at the waterbody.
The tribunal, while slamming the report filed by the state government saying that it lacked material information and actual action taken, directed the government to set up a committee to inspect the lake. The tribunal also said that the report also does not answer the status of compliance of the Tribunal’s directions.
When the tribunal questioned the government on Wednesday as to why the lake caught fire again a few days ago, Mr Nagaraj, Superintendent Engineer, BDA, flatly denied it saying, “There has been no fire in the lake since January 19, 2018.” The NGT recorded the statement and asked the state to verify it.
After considering the state’s report on removal of macrophytes and cleaning Bellandur, Agara and Varthur lakes, it said the information provided is insufficient and incorrect. It appointed a commission with senior advocate Raj Panjwani, junior advocate nominated by Panjwani, a professor from IISc, BBMP commissioner, senior scientist from CPCB, CEO of KLCDA and Member Secretary of KSPCB.
The BDA secretary will be the nodal officer, who will provide all logistical support, and the BDA will also deposit '5 lakh towards the cost of the commission. The Bengaluru police commissioner will make security arrangements.
The commission will inspect the lake on April 14 and 15, record all the fires at the lake till April 10, 2018, size of the three lakes 25 years ago as against their spread now, the extent of the lake covered by macrophytes, rate of removal of macrophytes and hydrophytes, extent of sewage being dumped in lakes, extent of silt and other deposits and their depth, quantity of municipal solid waste being dumped in and around lakes and extent of availability of sewage treatment plants around lakes.
It will inspect whether apartment complexes around the lakes have obtained occupancy certificates from the municipal corporation and whether the Tribunal’s directions on April 19, 2017, May 18, 2017, January 29, 2018 and February 28, 2018 have been followed.
Mr Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO, Namma Bengaluru Foundation, said, “The NGT-appointed committee will pave way for a tangible action plan to protect and rejuvenate Bellandur, Agara and Varthur lakes.”The NGT will consider the committee report when the matter comes up on May 11, 2018.
