Green tribunal slams govt for Varthur foam

Fix toxic mess soon, NGT tells state

The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday pulled up the Karnataka government for toxic foam spilling onto the road from Varthur lake in Bengaluru.

When a lawyer brought to its notice media reports about the foam, the green bench, headed by tribunal chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, said, “What is this going on? How are you getting so much of foam? Why can’t you remove the factor which generates foam? There are traffic jams which further lead to air pollution.”

When an advocate representing the government said it would look into the problem and apprise the tribunal at the next hearing, the bench said, “First, you put your lakes on fire and now cause traffic jams. You can’t do this. Look into this matter and resolve it.” The foam had enveloped roads along the lake, a lawyer said.

Heavy showers last week got Varthur lake foaming again. With toxic foam spilling onto Whitefield Main Road, motorists had a tough time negotiating traffic.

Bellandur pollutants

The NGT also refused to give relief to automobile showrooms near Bellandur lake from shutting down. The green bench headed by NGT chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar issued notices to the state government, Lake Development Authority, Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA), Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and central pollution control board and sought their reply on the plea of the car dealers within a week.

The bench had earlier ordered the KSPCB to close down 76 polluting industries around the lake and directed them to set up sewage and effluent treatment plant.

However, the automobile dealers near the lake filed an application before the NGT, saying the authorities had shut down their units, located more than 15 km away from the lake.

An advocate appearing for the car dealers said they were strictly complying with all norms and not discharging any effluent in the Bellandur lake.

“The audit report by Maruti company shows strict compliance by us. If any of the dealers does not comply with regulations, the dealership is instantly cancelled. We are in no way responsible for pollution in the lake. Those units which have released effluents should be closed,” he said.

The bench said, “You are making it difficult for people to breathe and live their life. People are coming to the court, saying there are deaths taking place due to the pollution. You are not maintaining any record of the hazardous waste generated by you. Show us the mechanism as to how you collect the waste,” the bench said. The bench listed the matter for next hearing on June 8.