The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has refused to extend the deadline for setting up sewage treatment plants (STPs) beyond September 2020 for the protection of Bellandur, Varthur and Agara lakes.

A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said, If the work remains incomplete even till September 30, compensation will be liable to be paid at the rate of 10 lakh per STP per month, which may be liable to be recovered from the erring officers, apart from adverse entries in their service records and other adverse action.

The green panel further observed that the fact that approximately 256 million litres of untreated sewage was entering the Bellandur lake on a daily basis was a criminal offence, which needs to be tackled on a war footing.

While observing that the lake, which is said to be 130 years old, is a habitat to several species of birds and aquatic life, the bench said, This (pollution) has also affected groundwater recharge. Waste dumping has resulted in foul stench around the lake. Major cause for foam formation is considered to be the discharge of untreated sewage through open drains.

Noting that authorities have failed to take appropriate action, the bench said, De-silting of the lake has not been done from time to time nor have steps been taken to stop the flow of untreated sewage into the water bodies. There is also failure to prevent dumping of municipal solid waste.

The tribunal further directed the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewage Board (BWSSB) to ensure that no effluent is discharged into the lakes till the STPs are installed and specified that a compensation of 5 lakh per month per inlet into the lakes will be levied in case of non-compliance.

Sources of discharge be controlled or regulated, and electricity and water supplies to the defaulting establishments be stopped for enforcement of law till remedial steps are taken for compliance. Encroachment, which are still continuing, be removed by using force wherever necessary, the bench said.

Additionally, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board was directed to develop a robust water quality monitoring programme to keep a check on the water quality in drains leading to the lakes.

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No extension on deadline to set up STPs to protect three lakes - The Hindu