HC imposes curbs on brewery for polluting Bellandur lake

The High Court of Karnataka on Friday restrained the functioning of a microbrewery in Koramangala as it was said to be letting out untreated effluents into the drain leading to Bellandur lake.

Hearing a petition filed by Yard House Brewery Pvt Ltd, a division bench comprising Chief Justice S K Mukherjee and Justice P S Dinesh Kumar restrained the functioning of the microbrewery. It, however, allowed the functioning of the bar and restaurant attached to the microbrewery.

The microbrewery had moved the court challenging the notice issued by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) which had directed it to close its business as the effluents let out by it were polluting the lake.

The petitioner contended that KSPCB issued the notice following the order of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) which had directed closing down of all industries around the lake. The brewery said KSPCB’s action was arbitrary and had issued the notice without giving them an opportunity of being heard.

The company said that after the KSPCB notice, Bescom disconnected its power supply without any basis or notice. The petitioner apprehend that even water supply could be disconnected.

The bench restrained the microbrewery from functioning till the joint inspection team inspected its premises and approved it.  The bench, allowing the petitioner to run its bar and restaurant, also directed Bescom to restore power supply to the company.
DH News Service