The State government and the BBMP, who have been penalised ₹75 crore in all by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) for failing to rejuvenate Bellandur and Varthur lakes have objected to the quantum of fine and are likely to appeal against the verdict.
“The NGT has not said on what basis the State government has been penalised. There has been no dereliction by the State government. This year too, the State has allotted ₹50 crore for development of Bellandur lake. We were about to start work. It is unfair for the NGT to have levied the fine,” Bengaluru Deveopment Minister G. Parameshwara told reporters on Friday.
He objected to the one-month deadline imposed by the NGT to complete the action plan. “We will take on a decision after we get the written judgment,” he said.
The tribunal had come down heavily on the government for failing to ‘protect and rejuvenate’ Bellandur, Agara and Varthur lakes, and on Thursday had directed the State government to transfer ₹500 crore to an escrow account.
The Urban Development Department (UDD) are awaiting the copy of the order to consider legal options, including an appeal, against the fine.
BBMP to appeal
BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad said the civic body, which is not the custodian of the lake, will be appealing against the order in the Supreme court. The NGT had imposed a fine of ₹25 crore on the BBMP for failure to rejuvenate the lake.
“We have not received the order, but our advocate in the NGT has advised us to appeal in the Supreme court... We will appeal as we don’t know the basis on which BBMP is being fined,” he said.
