BBMP fined of Rs.5 Cr for non compliance by NGT

Bengaluru: The National Green Tribunal questioned BBMP over its “repeated failure” in complying NGT’s directions to ensure bio-mining. 

The NGT has slashed a fine of Rs 5 crore to BBMP for not complying by the rules. 

BBMP was slammed for  dumping of solid wastes in quarry pits at Bengaluru north taluk.

“There is thus continued defiance by the BBMP not only in carrying out the directions of this tribunal but also in performing its statutory duties which has consequence of threatening the public health and environment,” a bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel said.

“We thus reject the claim of compliance and hold that the so-called compliance is an exercise to cover up the failure or duty by the BBMP,” it added. 

The panel granted two months’ time for compliance of its directions, subject to depositing environmental compensation of Rs 5 crore within one month with the Central Pollution Control Board. 

“It is open to the BBMP to recover the amount from the officers responsible for failure of their duties. The amount may be spent on remedying the situation and improving the environment by CPCB,” the tribunal said in its order passed on October 22. 

The order was passed on an application filed by advocate Shailesh Madiyal on behalf of Venkatesh and others. 

The tribunal had earlier noted that abandoned quarries were being used as dumping sites in violation of the Solid Waste Municipal Rules, 2016.