Cracking the whip on two commercial projects in Bengaluru, National Green Tribunal today imposed Rs 117.35 crores and Rs 22.5 crores as damages on two companies for degrading the environment.
The Tribunal also directed the Centre to stop sanctioning any venture on wetlands and catchment areas of water bodies in the city.
The two companies Mantri Techzone Pvt Ltd and Core Mind Software and Services Pvt Ltd have been directed to pay Rs 117.35 crores and Rs 22.5 crores as compensation respectively for the "illegal and unauthorised" construction carried out in violation of the environmental laws.
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A bench, headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, termed the project proponents as "intentional defaulters and constituted a committee to make a survey of the the ecologically sensitive area on the land between Bellandur and Agara lakes, in Bengaluru.
It also restrained them from creating any third party interest or part with the possession of the property in question till the panel comes out with a report.
"There is sufficient material by way of reports, google images and other documents that the Bellandur Lake and even other lakes for that matter have wetlands and catchment areas. There are encroachments on the Rajakaluves as well as on the catchment areas of the water bodies.
"Furthermore, the stop-work notices issued by different authorities from time to time also suggest that the work and progress of the projects was in violation of the laws in force. The cumulative effect of the above discussion would be that there is a definite possibility of environment, ecology, lakes and the wetlands being adversely affected by these projects," the bench said.
It also constituted a committee comprising Advisor in MoEF dealing with the subject of wetlands, CEO of Karnataka Lake Development Authority, Chief Town Planner of BBMP, Chairman of SEAC which recommended EC to the projects, scientist (Ecology) from Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, Dr Siddharth Kaul (former Advisor to MoEF) and a senior officer from National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee.
