Bengaluru: Withdrawing the notification dated December 11, 2019, issued by the State Government to hand over the Bird Conservation Reserve to BBMP, a division bench of Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum has directed the Forest Department to look after the reserve.
“We do not find any justification handing over the Bird Conservation Reserve to the BBMP,” stated the Karnataka High Court noting that the Chief Wildlife Warden is the competent authority to control, manage, and maintain the Puttenhalli Bird Conservation Reserve in Yelahanka.
Through a PIL, the Yelahanka Puttenahalli Lake and Bird Conservation Trust questioned the notification.
The court issued the order to ensure that proper maintenance and development takes place in order to conserve birds, their young, eggs, and nests, and ordered the government to release a sum of Rs. 25 lakh that had been allotted to carry out pending work at the reserve.
For the safety of flora and fauna, the court further ordered the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to adopt all necessary and appropriate measures to prevent/stop sewage leaking into the Puttenahalli conservation reserve as soon as possible. The BWSSB will visit the sanctuary with the Chief Wildlife Warden to ensure proper maintenance and completion of pending works. The court also pointed out that the pending work at the reserve is not being done due to the State Government’s negligence.
