B K Chandrashekar for committee to monitor NGT orders on Bellandur lake

 Former Congress minister B K Chandrashekar has suggested that a group be formed to look into the implementation of the National Green Tribunal’s directions on Bellandur lake and identify the glitches in the functioning of the civic bodies over the last 15 years. 

Speaking to reporters here on Saturday, Chandrashekar sought the setting up of an independent group. “The group should comprise members from the bureaucracy and should be headed by a former bureaucrat. It should also have members from IIT and representatives from the NGOs,” he said.

The group will examine files pertaining to the Bangalore Development Authority, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike and the Pollution Control Board. It will submit a report to the chief minister regarding lapses in the functioning of these bodies and hold the authorities concerned responsible.

Clarifying that he was not voicing the opinion of his party, Chandrashekar said that it was necessary to find who had the decision-making powers and who had escaped.

With regards to decision on closure of industries around the lake, Chandrashekar said: “We cannot just wind up the industries. Government must act immediately and relocate them elsewhere,” he said. The 50-metre buffer zone around the lake, which perviously was the norm, would suffice and that there was no need to extend this to 75 metres, he said.

Chandrashekar also claimed that the previous top officials at the KSPCB had shirked their responsibility and had not acted on the issue. “How did these industries come up on the lake’s circumference? Who gave them clearances,” he asked.

After several interactions with the members of the Residents’ Welfare Associations in the area, he said that they had sought for the strict implementation of the NGT order.

Waste dumping in lake continues

 The waste dumping in Bellandur lake has continued, despite the National Green Tribunal criticising Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike and other government agencies for their failure to protect the
water body. On Saturday morning, a huge amount of waste was dumped in the lake much to the astonishment of the local residents, who complained to BBMP and various lake protection groups.
When contacted, BBMP’s Joint Commissioner (solid waste management) Sarfaraz Khan said he had received a message on the dumping of waste in the lake. “Various related bodies have been alerted to help us track miscreants.”