No discussion: NGT panel meet on lakes called off

The technical committee constituted by the NGT to look into proposals to rejuvenate Bellandur and Varthur lakes, which met for the first time on Friday, failed to deliberate anything as officials called off the meeting citing the model code of conduct.

A few experts, who attended the meeting, expressed anger over the cancellation.

“The meeting was called just to announce that no decision can be taken until the model code of conduct was in place. The next date of the meeting was also not decided. If this was the case, there was no need to call the meeting,” said one of the committee members.

Ravindra Babu, Bangalore Development Authority engineer; Nagaraj, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike engineer; A N Yellappa Reddy, noted environmentalist; IISc Prof T V Ramachandra, Raja from Scalene Energy Water Corporation Limited and Dr Madhusudhan from Karnataka State Pollution Control Board attended the meeting.

The members said that no proposals could be discussed in the meeting.

“The meeting started with the discussion on ways to revive the Varthur Lake. Some plans were tabled. The members of Art of Living Foundation suggested sprinkling microbes, natural and chemical substances to curtail pollution and frothing in the Varthur Lake. As the discussion gained momentum, the meeting was called off stating the model code of conduct,” a member said.

However, the residents living around the Bellandur and Varthur lakes were not present during the meeting.

“We were informed about the location in the last minute and could not make it on time,” Shonali Singh, member of Citizens Watch Group said.

Interestingly, frothing at the Bellandur Lake was listed as one of the agendas of the meeting. But the officials brushed it aside stating: “There is nothing new about it as it has been happening for the past two years.”