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Judgment
Grievance in this matter relates to pollution of Papnash Lake in Bidar District, Karnataka by discharge of sewage in violation of the Karnataka Lake Conservation and Development Authority Act, 2014. The lake is being polluted and is sought to be emptied to set up a statue of Lord Shiva, against the policy of law for protection of water bodies.
Vide order dated 30.05.2019, a factual and action taken report was sought from the Bidar Municipal Corporation, the District Magistrate, Bidar and the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
The matter was thereafter considered on 20.09.2019 with reference to a report dated 08.07.2019 received from the KSPCB to the effect that there was no cooperation from the Deputy Commissioner, Bidar District and Commissioner, City Municipal Corporation, Bidar and the Tribunal observed as follows:
"3. As per report dated 08.07.2019 received from the KSPCB, the Deputy Commissioner, Bidar District and Commissioner, City Municipal 2 Corporation, Bidar are not cooperating. It is not clear whether efforts were made to have discussion by Video Conferencing or on the internet. Learned Counsel for the SPCB states that necessary steps will now be taken and the report filed before the next date.
In the meanwhile, action in terms of the proceedings of the meeting dated 24.06.2019 may be taken by the concerned authorities and be monitored by the SPCB.
It will be open to the SPCB to report to the Chief Secretary in case the District Administration does not cooperate. If such case, the Chief Secretary may take further remedial action accordingly. "
Action taken report has been furnished by the Deputy Commissioner, Bidar to the effect that an Expert Technical Committee has been constituted which found that bulk of sewage was flowing which was required to be diverted from the lake into the irrigation lands by constructing a diversion channel. Encroachment has to be cleared from the lake. The proposal to install the statute has been dropped. STP will be completed by April, 2020.
Let all necessary steps be taken for diversion so that no untreated pollutants are discharged into water bodies in view of the statutory mandate under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
The septic tanks in question may be properly cleaned and sludge disposal may be done in a scientific manner.
The application is disposed of.