The High Court of Karnataka on Friday set aside a Government Order issued to stop establishment of a sewerage treatment plant (STP) at Agara lake following Congress MLC V.S. Ugrappa’s recommendation.
Also, the court directed Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) to set up the STP at Agara lake in HSR Layout within six months.
A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice B.V. Nagarathna passed the order while disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by HSR Layout Sector VII Residents’ Welfare Association. This was after counsel for Karnataka State Pollution Control Board made it clear that the STP at Agara was the only solution to address the problem faced by the residents.
Various government agencies had decided to set up the STP at Agara lake following a suggestion made by a committee set up by the High Court in 2013 and after inspection of the lake by the Chief Minister.
However, the Chief Secretary, on September 12, 2014, ordered to stop installation of the STP at Agara lake but ordered for it to be set up at Kachohalli area following recommendation of Mr. Ugrappa, who had claimed that the cost of the STP would be very high.
The petitioners claimed that the STP was required to be set up at Agara lake to prevent various health hazards and the cost of establishment would remain same irrespective of its location.
