Big blow: NGT slaps ? 500 cr fine on K’taka govt over lake upkeep

NT Correspondent

New Delhi:

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Saturday imposed a penalty of Rs 500 crore on the Karnataka State government for its failure to maintain the Chandapura lake in Anekal Taluk in the Bengaluru district.

Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, who headed the Principal Bench of the NGT cited a joint committee report which held the BJP-led administration of having a lax attitude as far as cleaning the lake goes. “ We determine the amount of compensation at Rs 500 cr for reasons to be stated in the later part of this order.

The amount may be deposited within one month and kept in a ring-fenced account with the State Pollution Control Board which will be the responsibility of the Chief Secretary, Karnataka. The amount may be utilized for restoration measures preferably within six months, as per directions and supervision of a Monitoring Committee.

The same will be headed by Chairman, State Wetland Authority. The Chairman of the Committee may evolve a mechanism for coordination and working," Goel ordered. The bench ordered the State government to submit an interim action taken report by end of January next year and demanded that the Chief Secretary be present over video conference during the next hearing.

“The State has failed to protect the environment and provide a clean environment for citizens in breach of its duty to enforce the right to life and ‘Sustainable Development’ principle. Lake ecology and ecosystem have hugely suffered.

The State is thus to be held liable to pay environmental compensation and to restore the ecosystem. Needless to say, the State is free to recover the amount of compensation which it is being required to pay from erring violators— industries, encroachers, and erring officers, following due process of law," the order added.