Bellandur Lake: SC nod for closure of polluting units

Bengaluru: The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the order of the Karnataka High Court, which had stayed the order of National Green Tribunal directing Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) authorities to ensure closure of 76 polluting industries around Bellandur lake. With the SC order, the NGT is all set to proceed with the Bellandur case. 

The high court had stayed the proceedings of NGT following the petition filed M/s Shashi Distilleries Pvt Ltd, which had challenged the NGT, New Delhi order on the ground that it has passed the it without jurisdiction as the petition regarding pollution in Bellandur lake has to be heard by NGT in the Southern Zone bench Chennai.

According to Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF), which had approached the Supreme Court against the High Court's order,  “The Supreme Court has recorded its distress in the way the Karnataka High Court stayed further proceedings of the NGT.  After a detailed hearing, the High Court order has stayed. The NGT is now free to proceed with the Bellandur Lake issues.”

It further added that the advocate representing it has submitted before the SC that instead of taking any of the efficacious alternate remedies available to it in law, the respondent Shashi Distilleries filed a writ petition before the High Court.

“Moreover, the NBF who is a party before the Tribunal was not even made a party in the proceedings before the HC. Further, the HC without hearing the parties before the Tribunal stayed the suo motu proceedings as a whole,” it added. The NGT is set to resume its hearing  from Wednesday.