'BBMP commissioner issued circular on Green Tribunal order'

The circular that irked the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday was issued by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad, which had ‘clarified’ the NGT order.

While passing an order on May 4, 2016 pertaining to the constructions on the wetland of Bellandur lake, the NGT had redefined the buffer zones of lakes and stormwater drains. It had said that the buffer zone of the lake should be at least 75 metres from the lake boundary and no construction should take place there.

For stormwater drains, the buffer zones are 50 metres, 35 metres and 25 metres from the boundary.

The NGT order created quite a flutter in the realty sector and they rushed to the BBMP and the Urban Development department seeking clarification.

Prasad in the circular dated March 30, 2017 referred to a letter by the state government and explained that those layouts and building plans which were approved before May 4, 2016 and where development had started should not come under the purview of the NGT order.