Prosecute lake encroachers: NGT tells KSPCB

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday asked the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to prosecute those responsible for violating the law by constructing buildings illegally in the buffer zone of Kaikondarahalli lake in Varthur Hobli near Bengaluru.

Since this was the first time the Green Bench has asked the government authorities to prosecute encroachers, it will have a major impact on lake buffer zone grabbers as several lakes in Karnataka have been encroached upon.

The Principal Bench of the NGT headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel in its order said the KSPCB may also initiate action to recover the damage caused to the water body.

The NGT order came in the background of a petition filed before the tribunal alleging that illegal structures had been put up in the buffer zone of the Kaikondranahalli lake.

Earlier a panel led by KSPCB also said there were illegal structures within the buffer zone that needed to be cleared to save the water body.

The NGT also directed the KSPCB to submit a compliance report in two months.