NGT committee to visit Bellandur, Varthur lakes

The committee formed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to oversee the works at Bellandur and Varthur lakes will visit the waterbodies on February 17.

In a move to further transparency, the committee has also decided to create a web page by February.

People can access the web page to see the progress made by the stake holders and give inputs as well.

On the sidelines of Wednesday’s meeting, retired Supreme Court Judge and head of the committee, Justice N Santosh Hegde told DH that all stake holders (government agencies) have given their inputs.

“We have asked them to submit a consolidated report. It has been decided the next step will be a field visit at 9 am on February 17. Thereafter, meetings will be held and the NGT will be informed about the details,” said Hegde.

Individual members from the committee have already visited the waterbodies and have made observations. The committee also took note of the encroachments in and around the two lakes.

The committee also pointed out the rajakaluve encroachments, narrowing of rajakaluves, laying of pipes, construction and demolishing waste dumping by Minor Irrigation Department (MID) and encroachment on the buffer zone along the Belagere road.

The committee has pulled up the MID and Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board over laxity in protecting the lakes.