The National Green Tribunal, Southern Zone, Chennai, has upheld the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s (KSPCB) closure order on granite industries located around the river banks of Arkavathy in Bangalore.
Sixteen industrial units, engaged in granite cutting and polishing in Byndahalli and Kadabagare villages in Bangalore North taluk, were served closure notices on July 29 this year for allegedly causing air and water pollution.
However, the industries appealed before the tribunal and submitted reports stating they have not violated any conditions imposed by the board.
They said there have been no allegations in this regard by the public and no inspection conducted by the board.
In its order dated December 6, the tribunal noted that 13 of 16 industries in the area were functioning illegally, but this was not touched upon during the industries’ appeal.
It dismissed the appeals and said, “The tribunal is unable to notice any infirmity in the impugned directions issued by the board for the closure of the units. All the contentions put forth by the appellants do not merit acceptance.”
The tribunal also dismissed the industries’ claim that they had the necessary permission from the local panchayats to go about their work and said consent under Water and Air Act from the Pollution Control Board was more important.
The order goes a long way in protecting the ecologically sensitive zone as the quantum and quality of water supply from the Tippagondanahalli reservoir has a direct impact on Bangalore’s population.
The industries are located within one-km radius from the banks of the confluence of rivers Arkavathy and Kumudvathi, over which the Tippagondahalli reservoir has been built.
The government is now planning to revive the dried-up river in the wake of water scarcity in the city.
Meanwhile, Madhusudan S, environment officer at KSPCB (Dasarahalli), said the granite industries have been directed to remove all their machinery and construction within three months.
Madhusudan said no penalty has been imposed on the companies and the hearing on the closure orders issued to three more industrial units will be held this week.
Companies in the Dock
Divya Granites
Maruthi Packaging Industries
Sree Maruthi Granites
Sree Byraveshwara Granites
Rajashree Rocks
Navarathna Granites
Matheswari Granites
Lakshmi Narasimha Granites
Shree Sakthi Enterprises
Shree Om Shakthi Granites
Vinayaka Granites
Shree Srinivasa Granites
Shree Balaji Granites
Shree Ganesha Granites
Shree Sapthagiri Granites
Sri Manjunatha Swamy Granites