The National Green Tribunal has rapped the Karnataka government for not removing weeds and macrophytes from Bengaluru's Bellandur lake at regular intervals despite specific orders and directed it to submit monthly compliance reports.
A bench headed by Justice Jawad Rahim noted that in its January 29 order it had asked the state government to remove macrophytes or marine plants as they polluted the water. Macrophytes are aquatic plants that grow in or near water and provides cover for fish and other aquatic organisms.
"We had specifically directed removal of macrophytes from said lakes shall be carried out on regular intervals and compliance report shall be placed before the every month.
"Counsel appearing on behalf of the State of Karnataka submits that they are complying with the directions but we are not satisfied. Hence, we direct Karnataka to file monthly compliance reports with regard to the direction about the physical removal of macrophytes once in a month," the bench said.
The tribunal directed the state government to produce sufficient material proof of the action taken in this regard and posted the matter for hearing on April 11.
On January 29, the green panel had directed the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru to carry out a pilot study on the visible aquatic plants.
"Considering the role of macrophytes in rendering the quality of water in lakes below acceptable levels, it is necessary that the macrophytes menace is terminated once and for all," the NGT had said.
Earlier, the green panel had come down heavily on the Karnataka government for not taking active measures to prevent the recurring incidents of fires at the severely polluted Bellandur lake.
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