NGT fines state govt Rs 500 crore for failure to protect Chandapura lake

BENGALURU: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the state government to pay Rs 500 crore as environment compensation for its failure to maintain and for not taking action against polluters for contaminating the Chandapura lake in Anekal taluk, situated on the outskirts of the city.

Chemical effluents from industries and other wastes are discharged into the Chandapura Lake.

The lake is polluted with industrial chemical effluents and it has been encroached upon by government hospitals and local shops, while piles of garbage are also being dumped.

Garbage piles dumped on the lake bed.

A committee of seven members of the National Green Judiciary was formed to investigate the issues surrounding the Chandapura lake. When the officials visited the lake, they found that there was violation of environmental regulations and encroachment of the lake.

The court order was given on October 10.

The Principal Bench of the NGT, headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel imposed the penalty based on the report submitted by the committee regardking the lake pollution and the lack of strict action by the government authorities.

“The state government authorities have failed to protect and provide a clean environment. Huge damage has been caused to the ecosystem. There are illegal encorachments, violations of environmental norms by industries, failure to protect buffer zones, lack of control of pollution and the quality of the lake water has deteriorated,” said the NGT in its October 10 order.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed Rs 500 crore on the state government for failure to maintain the lake.

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has also directed the state government to recover the amount from violators like industries, encroachers and whoever caused the damage to the lake.

“The NGT has given clear directions to the government to recover the imposed amount from the polluters. Untreated sewage waste is discharged to these lakes. A committee was formed to look into the issue, and they took samples of the water. A report was also submitted to the government, “said Captain Santhosh, an activist.

Captain Santhosh who is fighting for the lake’s survival.

“The Chandapura lake is connected with surrounding lakes and other water streams. It’s basically a network of lakes. We are happy with the NGT’s directions. Information about the polluters is already with the pollution control board. Under the polluters’ pay doctrine, those who pollute the environment have to pay the amount,” he added.