Karna to seek legal opinion on NGT directive: George

Karnataka today said it would seek legal opinion on implications of the National Green Tribunal directive, asking civic authorities todemolish or disallow any further construction of at least 75m from a lake and 50 m around any primary storm water drain.
"We are yet to receive NGT's order copy. Once wereceive it, we will seek legal opinion," Bengaluru City Development Minister K J George said.
He was speaking to reporters after a meeting on reviving of Bellandur and Varthurlakes, which are in the limelight over the pollution issue.
George said government is steadfast in its commitmentto protect lakes and lands from being encroached. Already instructions have been given to the implementing authorities to look into the matter, he said.

"Nevertheless, we are here to protect our lakes. Wedon't want anybody to encroach our lands and stormwater drains. We have already had a meetingwith people. All the implementing agencies are working towards it. We are at it," he said.
NGT had issued the directive on a petition by Namma Bengaluru Foundation. It imposed compensationpenalty of Rs 117 crore on developer Mantri. Another developer Coremind was directed to pay Rs 13.5 crore as compensation.

NGT had also directed the implementing authority- State Environmental Impact Assessment Agency (SEIAA) -to monitor the construction of these two projects.
To another query, George said governmentalso planned to convene an open meeting to adopt the newmeasurements under the City Development Plan (CDP).

"Now that the NGT is saying that the civic authorities should only allow construction at least 75 metres from a lake and 50 metres around any primary storm water drain, we will try to adopt these as provisions under the CDP. For this also, we are going to have an open meeting soon," George said.
Mantri and Coremind had moved the Supreme Court, after NGT's order on May 8 lastyear, asking the developers to pay a penalty to KarnatakaState Pollution Control Board, as their projects came under a Special Economic Zone.
The Supreme Court had referred the case back tothe tribunal.

Earlier, government held a meeting to put in placea comprehensive plan to revive Bellandur and Varthur lakes.
George said an expert committee would be formed to revive the lakes. It has been requested to submit a reportwithin 20 days on suggestions pertaining to their revival.
Asked how long it would take toinitiate revival work, he said it would be soon after ChiefMinister Siddaramaiah gives the nod after thecommittee gives its recommendations to him.
To a query, he said governmentwould entrust lakes revival work to an an agency, which inturn would outsource the job to various other agencies.