A mega residential project on wet land adjoining Agara and Bellandur lakes, being taken up by a leading builder, has run into trouble with Upa Lokayukta taking up suo motu case.
The case involves alleged irregularities, firstly during the acquisition of the land for a Special Economic Zone and later switching to construction of layouts in 60 acres of land.
Upa Lokayukta Justice Subhash B Adi has sought records pertaining to the project. The Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB) had acquired the land and allotted it to Manipal ETA Infotech Ltd, which was later transferred to Mantri Tech Zone Pvt Ltd, which is building an apartment complex.
“The project was sanctioned by KIADB. A forum South-East Forum for Sustainable Development has filed a complaint alleging that a multi-storeyed residential building is coming up in violation of KIADB and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board norms,” a Lokayukta official said.
Downstream of Agara Lake was originally agricultural land. A part of the Bellandur lake catchment area also came under this.
“A study report submitted by the Environmental Information System centre of ecology system emphasised the detrimental factors of the project to the environment and ecology. There is a possibility of pollution, stoppage of storm water running into the lake causing health hazard and flooding,” Justice Adi told Express.
Justice Adi has directed KIADB to produce documents showing why the land was acquired and on what basis it was transferred to a private builder.
Upa Lokayukta also sought details on how the project got a green signal without environmental and Lake Development Authority clearance.