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National Green Tribunal order on buffer zone ignored?

The basic principles and rules must be adhered to by the bureaucrats and the public: Activist.

BENGALURU: Civic activists believe that had the authorities implemented the buffer zone around lakes as ordered to by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) a couple of years ago, the impact of the Hulimavu lake breach may not have been as serious as it was..

“Had the buffer zone concept been followed and proper drainage infrastructure put in place , the impact of the disaster would not have been of this magnitude,” contended a former member of the Citizens’ Action Forum (CAF), D S Rajshekar.

Recalling that the tribunal had in response to petitions by concerned citizens ordered the creation of a buffer zone of 75 meters and 25 meters around lakes and drains respectively, he said the move was intended to ensure that the lake catchment area was not encroached upon. But the town planning authorities had not taken the order seriously and allowed construction in what should have been the buffer zone, he deplored.

“The basic principles and rules must be adhered to by the bureaucrats and the public . If greed for money takes over, one day, the price has to be paid. The guilty officials must be punished and not just penalised,” the activist insisted;

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