Bengaluru wins; Supreme Court upholds NGT order on encroachment of lakes
After a strategic fight by the Namma Bengaluru Foundation and Citizen Action Forum with the support of MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar against builders, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld NGT's judgement passed on May 4, 2016.
FollowBengaluru: In a huge win for the citizens of Bengaluru, the Supreme Court on Tuesday dismissed the appeal of Mantri TechZone and Core Mind Software Services to quash the judgement passed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on May 4, 2016.
In May 2016, the NGT’s principal bench had passed a judgement specifying buffer zone of 75 metres in the case of lakes, 50 metres for primary, and 35 metres for secondary and 25 metres for tertiary raja-kaluves to be maintained from the edge of these water bodies. The NGT then had observed that these buffers are essential for sustainable development of the environment of the area in question. These buffer zones were directed to be maintained as green belts, and as ‘no construction zone’ for all intent and purposes. The NGT’s judgement was critical for restoring Bengaluru’s lakes and environment.
It was then that the Karnataka government and the two private entities - Mantri Tech Zone and Core Mind Software Services approached the Supreme Court bench consisting of Justices AK Sikri, Justice S Abdul Nazeer and Justice MR Shah in April 2017 seeking to quash the NGT’s order citing that the Tribunal had no jurisdiction to promulgate such orders.
Member of Parliament, Rajeev Chandrashekar, took to Twitter and celebrated the joyous victory. Rajeev Chandrashekar said, "@Namma_Bengaluru and other citizens with my full support have defeated builder-politico nexus that was looting #Bengaluru n #Bellandur lake."
#Namma #Bengaluru wins ! @Namma_Bengaluru n othr ctzns wth my full supprt hv defeatd buildr-politico nexus tht was lootng #Bengaluru n #Bellandur lake
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@rajeev_mp) March 5, 2019
Despit money power they used - law n people prevailed in Suprme court. 👍🏻🙏🏻 thank u @poovayya
Lawbreakng Builders beware! https://t.co/yj0Fl7fGm2
Namma Bengaluru Foundation's director Suresh NR said, “Namma Bengaluru Foundation has been at the forefront in this fight to restore Bengaluru’s important and critical water bodies. Our fight has drawn immense support from citizens across Bengaluru. This support has given us the strength to take our fight to the courts, including the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and the Supreme Court of India.”
