Bellandur lake: Advocate files complaint against BBMP, BDA

Bengaluru: A complaint has been filed in the Karnataka Lokayukta against BBMP, BDA Commissioner, Chairman of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, Bellandur Constituency MLA Varthur Prakash and local corporator, for improper maintenance and negligence of Bellandur Lake.

Advocate Umesh Kumar filed the complaint which stated, “Even though several lakhs of rupees was sanctioned by the state government towards the maintenance of Bellandur Lake, the above said government officers have showed negligence. As a result the public is affected."

The highlight of Kumar's accusation is the lack of an inquiry by officials.

"The issue came up two years ago when the lake caught fire but they did not intervene. Without making an inquiry they have called for the second tender. They should have filed a criminal case against those who had the earlier tender for maintenance, surrounding factory owners, BBMP, BDA, KSPCB and others," Umesh Kumar said in a conversation with DC.

 "All the officials were aware of what was happening. They were paid off by factory owners. They all came when the fire happened, but the Pollution Control Board, BBMP and local leaders did nothing about it after that," he said, adding that this is a criminal offence.

"Issuing tender is good, but lakhs of rupees which was misappropriated by the officials by raising false bills, has to be recovered and they have to be punished according to the law."

Umesh also said that if there was no response from the Lokayukta, he will approach the High Court and file a complaint against the Lokayukta. His previous complaint in the Lokayukta for opening up of Cubbon Park to 24/7 traffic, thereby damaging the ecosystem, evoked no concrete result, he claimed.