Bengaluru: In view of the state government’s failure to contain the pollution problem at Bellandur Lake, the National Green Tribunal on Thursday issued summons to top state government officials and sought an explanation from them about the steps taken by the government to prevent pollution in the lake.
According to reports, the Additional Chief Secretary, who heads the Department of Urban Development, and Chief Executive Officer of the Lake Development Authority have been directed to appear before the NGT principal bench headed by Justice Swatanter Kumar on August 22.
The court also asked the officials to submit a compliance report on the NGT orders passed on April 19.
The bench asked the state government to explain how many big canals (rajakaluves) had been cleaned so far, how much waste was removed from the rajakaluves and from Bellandur lake, where the waste was dumped, what preventive steps had been taken to check effluents entering the water body and fire episodes in lakes.
THe summons come in the backdrop of the recent frothing at Belladur lake due to heavy rains.The state government reportedly pleaded that it could not take responsibility for the unforeseeable situation caused by cloudburst.However the NGT did not accept the accept the cloudburst plea, mentioning it would not give rise to froth and smoke.
The state government also submitted a memo of steps taken by the government according to the NGT orders, while seeking more time to file a detailed reply.
Unconvinced by the memo, and the submissions, the Tribunal sought the views of Namma Bengaluru Foundation.
