Bellandur industries get relief, as HC stays NGT order to shut down

It's a relief to industries surrounding Bellandur lake who were asked to shut down KSPCB withdraws application submitted to NGT requesting clarification about permitting those industries which have installed water treatment plants to continue functioning The petitioners had questioned the jurisdiction of the NGT, New Delhi to hear matters related to Karnataka

The Karnataka High Court has stayed orders issued by the Principal Bench of National Green Tribunal, New Delhi, directing the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to shut down industries surrounding Bellandur Lake, alleging releasing effluents into the lake.

The State Government and the KSPCB had earlier issued orders, on April 19, to close down industries surrounding Bellandur Lake and undertake cleaning works at the lake within a month. Questioning this order, the Shashi Distilleries Private Limited at Hulimavu had submitted a writ petition, requesting cancellation of the shut down order as the brewery was not releasing its effluents to Bellandur Lake and also has a water treatment plant at the unit itself, reports Kannada Prabha.

Inquiring into the petition by Shashi Distilleries and other applications submitted by Kupendra Reddy and others, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice PS Dinesh Kumar passed an interim order staying further proceedings before NGT, New Delhi. It also issued notices to Chief Secretary, State Government KSPCB, BWSSB and BBMP.

The applications by Kupendra Reddy and others were voluntarily admitted by the NGT and issued closure notices to industries including Shashi Distilleries.

After the stay order by HC, the KSPCB appealed to the NGT that it would withdraw the application seeking clarifications about permitting the industries surrounding Bellandur Lake to restart the works, if they install treatment plants at their works. The NGT permitted the appeal and hence KSPC withdrew the application.

M/s Shashi Distilleries had questioned the jurisdiction of NGT, New Delhi to inquire into the matters coming under NGT South. This was in line with the regulations of NGT that permitted only NGT at Chennai to deal with all issues relating to southern states. Shashi Distilleries also argued that the KSPCB had not even issued the mandatory show cause notice before ordering it to close down the unit all of a sudden on May 12.