The Karnataka High Court on Thursday upheld a Government Order on zoning of T.G. Halli reservoir and its catchment area giving relief to environmentalists and residents.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice A.S. Bopanna passed the order on petitions by some industries challenging the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) order asking them to close down as pollutants could affect the reservoir apart from causing irreparable damage to the catchment area.
The KSPCB told the court that the catchment area had been designated under Section 18 (I b) of the Prevention and Control of Pollution Act, 1974 and 1981as a “regulated zone”.
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The State had empowered it to ensure that the industries that had come up in the catchment area are not allowed to allow their waste or by-product to flow into the reservoir.
The board said that it had categorised the catchment area and T.G. Halli surroundings under several zones and industries could only be set up as per the zoning regulations.
The court agreed with this submission. However, it adjourned a petition by a green industry challenging KSPCB's contention to next week.
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