After NGT rap, KSPCB shuts down 4 units near Bellandur lake

After being pulled up by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for not shutting down polluting industries near Bellandur lake, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on Friday closed four polluting units.

Board chairperson Lakshman and his team visited around eight industries which were earlier issued closure notices. He told DH: “Four industries shut down voluntarily while others were asked to close. We had given closure notices to 76 industries a week ago and threatened to cut power and water supply if they did not close their units. Most of them have stopped operations on their own.”

The team also visited apartments and gave strict instructions in keeping with the NGT directive to install sewage treatment plants (STP) or face action. KSPCB identified around 157 apartments around the lake which were letting out sewage into Bellandur lake.

Apartments to get 3 months

Lakshman said apartments would be given three months' time to install STPs and the board will inspect them from Monday to monitor the situation and keep residents informed.

BWSSB engineer-in-chief Kemparamaiah said apartments that do not come under their network can hand over the treated water to the STPs installed by water board.

He added, “The treated water will be later disposed of into Vrishabhavathi valley. We will charge a nominal fee. However, they should bear the transportation cost. We will take care of the treated water at apartments coming under our purview. We are ready to extend our support to KSPCB in cutting off the water supply at apartments which do not install STPs in the coming days.”