NGT panel to inspect lakes in Bengaluru

Following orders from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday, a committee constituted by the tribunal is set to carry out a two-day inspection, starting Saturday, of the Bellandur, Agara and Varthur lakes in Bengaluru.

Coming down heavily on the Karnataka government for its inaction in cleaning the lakes despite recurrent fires caused by pollutants, the Bench, headed by NGT Acting Chairperson Jawad Rahim, said on April 11 that the committee would have as members senior personnel from the Indian Institute of Science, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, the Bangalore Development Authority, and the Central and State Pollution Control Boards.

“The committee shall inform the tribunal of the extent of hydrophytes in the lakes, along with the incidents of fire that have taken place till April 10, 2018, the condition of treatment plants, if any, and whether [residential] apartments [nearby] have obtained occupancy certificates,” the Bench said.