KSPCB issues closure notices to 14 industries for polluting Chandapura lake

“There are two regional offices coming in the catchment area of Chandapura lake, in which 158 industries come in the jurisdiction of the regional office (Sarjapura). All the industries were monitored and out of 158 industries 13 units are chronic defaulting units causing pollution. 385 industries are coming in the catchment area of the regional office (Anekal). Out of 385 industries five units are found to be defaulting. 14 industries have been issued with closure order and they are not functioning,” KSPCB stated in its action taken report.

The KSPCB was also ordered by the office of the chief secretary to carry out an environmental audit of Industries located in the catchment of Chandapura Lake. In this regard, the board informed the NGT that it floated a tender in January for an Expression of Interest to carry out an environmental audit of large red-category industries in the catchment area of Chandapura Lake.

“This audit will necessarily check whether environment management plans are effectively followed in the organization to safeguard the environment. The audit will also assess the risk of operation of the industry if any to surface waters and groundwater as well in the vicinity. 144 large red category industries located in the catchment have been identified for carrying out an environmental audit with following terms of reference,” the report said.

The NGT took suo moto cognizance of The Indian Express report ‘Lakes of Bengaluru: Industrial effluents, raw sewage; stinky tale of Chandapura lake’ that was published on November 21, 2021. Following this, the tribunal constituted a seven-member joint Committee of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA), National Wetland Authority, State Wetland Authority, and the District Magistrate, Bengaluru to ascertain the facts with regards to the violation of buffer zone, solid waste management guidelines at Chandapura lake in Anekal taluk.