Karnataka HC To State How Will You Ensure Lakes Are Clean Post Lockdown [Read Order]

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Hanchate Sanjeevkumar gave the direction whe hearing a public interest litigation filed by Geetha Misra. The government and State Pollution Control Board have to file their reply by May 27.

Advocate G R Mohan appearing for the petioner had argued that "At present the Water Bodies within the BBMP limits due to clean environment and closure of Industries and commercial activities due to lock down the Bellandur, Varthur Lakes and Vrishabavathy Rivers are not frothing and there is clean water. In order to preserve and prevent the water bodies from pollution the respondents are to inspect the water bodies and to see that no sewage/industrial/commercial effluents are let into those water bodies with strict inspection and monitoring by the State Pollution Control Board after the lockdown is lifted."

The petition mentions that earlier the lakes in Bengaluru BBMP limits and more particularly Bellandur Lake, Varthur Lake, Agara Lake and Vrishabavathi River water bodies became polluted due to discharge of untreated sewage water, other effluents from residential, commercial and industrial buildings in violation of statutory provision of Water ( Prevention and Control of Pollution ) Act 1975 and more specifically Section 25 of the Act.

The Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal New Delhi took Suo Motu cognisance of it and by order dated December 6, 2018, directed the Committee headed by the then retired Judge of Supreme Court Mr Santosh Hegde to study into the problem of pollution of lake and submits the status report. It was submitted in the year 2019 and following which several orders are passed by the tribunal for preservation of the lakes.

The petition by way of interim relief seeks directions to the state government to not permit the industrial production in and around the Bellandur Lake, Varthur Lake, Vrishabavathy River within the BBMP Limits pending disposal of the petition.

Click Here To Download Order

[Read Order]