NGT wants expert panel report on Bellandur lake by October 12

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday ordered an expert panel to submit a report on the spot inspection of the surroundings of Bengaluru’s Bellandur Lake by October 12.

Hearing a petition on the incidents of fire in the lake, the bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar ordered the panel to coordinate with the Pollution Control Board and inspect whether builders have followed the 75-metre buffer zone where no construction should take place. The tribunal asked the panel to submit its report the earliest and posted the matter for hearing on October 12.

The Forward Foundation, an NGO, had earlier submitted to the tribunal that builders were not following the buffer zone and called for a spot inspection by an expert panel.

The NGT then formed the panel and ordered it to submit a report after conducting an inspection. Sajan Poovayya, representing the NGO, said during the latest hearing that despite the NGT’s orders, the expert panel had not conducted a spot inspection.