Report every month on Bellandur Lake: NGT to Karnataka government

Bengaluru: Continuing its hearing in the Bellandur Lake fire case, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Monday passed interim directions to state authorities, based on the action plan submitted to the court. The Tribunal instructed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to issue directions to all the 99 apartment complexes that are discharging sewage into Bellandur and Varthur lakes to set up modular sewage stream STPs within the available space without posing a threat to structural safety. 

The Tribunal directed the pollution board to maintain a strict vigil and to prevent release of industrial effluents into Bellandur, Agara and Varthur lakes.

The NGT told the state government to physically remove macrophytes (dry floating grass / hyacinth), which were the reason for the fire in the lake, and instructed it to present a compliance report every month. The BDA had earlier blamed ‘mischievous elements’ for the fire.

Mr Sridhar Pabbisetty, CEO, Namma Bengaluru Foundation, said, “The Tribunal today (Monday) took into consideration the expert committee’s report on rejuvenation of Bellandur Lake, in which NBF played an instrumental role. So far, the state authorities’ efforts to save the lake have 

been dismal and we now hope that timely action plan reports to be submitted to the Tribunal will lead to restoring of Bellandur Lake.”

The Tribunal has instructed the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, to conduct a study of lifecycle of macrophytes and their biological eradication and to suggest ways for de-sedimentation.

Considering the state of Varthur and Agara lakes, the NGT directed state authorities to work on a time-bound plan for the two water bodies. An action plan report on the disposal of solid and other wastes has to be placed before the court. State agencies have to submit their first compliance reports during the NGT’s next hearing on February 28.