The National Green Tribunal on Wednesday directed an immediate and complete closure of all industries around Bengaluru’s Bellandur Lake where a mound of garbage was set on fire in February 2017.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar also banned dumping of any kind of municipal solid waste around the lake and announced an environment compensation of Rs 5 lakh on anyone found dumping waste in and around the lake, The Indian Express reported.
“All the industries located in the vicinity of Bellandur Lake and discharging effluent are hereby directed to be closed. No industry is permitted to operate unless inspection by a joint inspection team is conducted and analysis of effluent is found to be within the permissible limits,” the bench said.
Earlier, the NGT had asked Karnataka government and its agencies responsible for maintenance of the Bellandur lake why they should not be prosecuted for negligence following the recent outbreak of fire in the waterbody.
It also had issued notice to the Union Environment Ministry, the Karnataka government, Lake Authority of Bangalore, state pollution control board and Central Pollution Control Board in the case.
