Citizens, especially those living around Bellandur and Varthur lakes, are hoping that the NGT order will change the fate of the water bodies. After bearing the brunt of toxic foam and frequent fires, they hope the State government and civic agencies will get their act together and rectify the ecological damage wrought on the lakes.
The National Green Tribunal (NGT), on Thursday, took the State government and authorities concerned to task for failure to protect the water bodies while stating that the colossal neglect had caused immense harm.
Sonia Singh from the Save Bellandur Kere, a citizens' group, said for decades the local communities have been fighting against rampant pollution, encroachment and mismanagement of the water bodies. “With the NGT order, there is a glimmer of hope. We hope appropriate action plans are drawn up in consultation with local communities as well,” she said.
She, however, pointed out that while the NGT had directed the State government to pay ₹50 crore and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to pay ₹25 crore as penalty, it had not taken the Bengaluru Development Authority, which is the custodian of the lake, and the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board, which did little to prevent entry of raw and untreated sewage into the lake, to task.
“Politicians have visited the lake and made regular statements, but nothing changed on the ground. We now hope the lake rejuvenation plans are actually implemented, and the issue does not get into litigation again,” she said.
The Namma Bengaluru Foundation (NBF), which had impleaded in the suo motu case that the NGT took up in February 2017, has welcomed the ‘historic order’. Suresh N.R., head of NBF, said citizens would first like to know the State government's plans for implementation of the NGT order, along with the list of officials from different civic agencies who will be entrusted with this task.
“The NGT has reiterated what we (NBF) have been saying all this while... the government's apathy, negligence and carelessness are reasons for the deplorable condition of water bodies and stormwater drains in the city,” he said, adding that it is a ‘hallmark order that will help protect other water bodies in Bengaluru’.
He said NBF, along with other lake groups, would support the committee constituted by the green tribunal. It will be headed by former Lokayukta N. Santhosh Hegde.
