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NGT orders closure of industrial units in Bellandur Lake area (downtoearth,)



In a hearing on the Bellandur Lake fire case, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday ordered the closure of all industries situated in the vicinity of the lake. This was done to prevent industrial units from dumping treated or untreated waste into the lake.

Taking a suo motu cognisance, the NGT ordered that no industry would be allowed to operate in the area unless effluent emissions are under permissible limits. Industries found violating the order will be sealed.

The green bench order also prohibits dumping of municipal solid waste as well as construction and demolition waste into the lake or in the buffer zone. Individuals, industries and builders found violating the order will be fined Rs 5 lakh.

The Karnataka pollution control board, the Bangalore development authority and the lake development authority will be personally responsible for implementing the orders.

These authorities will have to nominate a member each not below the rank of additional secretary in the Karnataka government for forming a committee. The committee will be presided over by the chief secretary, urban development, Karnataka.

The committee will undertake the cleaning of the lake, including desiltation and surface clean up. To keep the lake area pristine, waste should be transported to a dumping site away from the water body. Karnataka will also set up a sewage treatment plant. The waste water will be used for agricultural purposes and in the power sector as a coolant.

The NGT also said that the authorities can follow the principle of payment by polluters to generate funds to carry out its order. The three authorities will submit an action plan on the next hearing to be held on May 18.
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