No construction zone around Bengaluru lakes: SC to hear plea

Bengaluru, June 15: When the Supreme Court opens after its summer break, it would hear a petition filed by the realtors from Bengaluru who are up in arms against a ruling that increased the no-construction zone around the water bodies. While the realtors have been crying foul, environmentalists say that this was an order that ought to have been passed 15 years back.

The National Green Tribunal had in May 2016 increased the no-construction zone around lakes in the city from 30 to 75 metres.

The rules by the Bangalore Development Authority and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike stated that construction around water bodies would be at 30 metres. Several environmentalists sought legal recourse and the NGT increased it to 75 metres.

Save the city

The NGT had said that the order was being passed keeping in mind the ecology and the environment. Over the past couple of years, there have been complaints of water bodies being encroached upon.

The infamous frothing of the Bellandur lake too has been blamed on extensive construction. The order of the NGT would be applicable only to up coming projects.

The realtors are however confident that they would get relief from the Supreme Court. They say many have purchased land, but cannot construct as a result of this order. Further they say that this order would also reduce the number of buyers.

The realtors would also state in the Supreme Court that this order would reduce the land available for construction which in turn would see properties prices soar.

OneIndia News