Bellandur lake fire: NGT puts state government on the mat

BENGALURU: The state government on Thursday sought more time to file their detailed reply on the suo-motu case on Bellandur Lake fire taken up by the National Green Tribunal (NGT).

The state government was told to come prepared for three points - on cleaning lake, on how much silt has been removed and where it has been dumped, to be answered by August 22. 

Adjourning the case to August 22, the NGT directed the Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department and the CEO, LDA to be present on the next hearing.

Seeking more time to report measures taken up by to clear the Bellandur lake, the state government said that the situation was completely unforeseeable for it was a cloud burst.

However, the NGT was not convinced by the memo and the submissions, the Tribunal sought the views of Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF), a non-profit organisation which has been assisting the NGT.

NBF has been assisting the NGT regarding the suo-motu case on Bellandur Lake fire by submitting a detailed dossier with pictures of encroachments and dumping of debris and garbage on a regular basis. 

On Wednesday too, NBF submitted a memo with all the pictures about the frothing due to heavy rain on the early morning of August 15.

On Thursday, the NBF legal team updated the NGT regarding the inadequacy of actions taken by the various state agencies on the Bellandur issue and stressed for a detailed affidavit to be placed in front of the court and verified by court appointed commissioner.

The NGT sought to know, how many raja kaluve have been cleared? How much waste has been collected from raja kaluve and particularly the Lake? Where have you dumped it? What are the preventive steps you have taken? 

Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO, Namma Bengaluru Foundation said, “It's a good day for the citizens of Bengaluru. NGT has taken cognizance and stepped in at the right time. NBF resolve to reclaim and protect Bengaluru and its water bodies has been strengthened.”