20 apartments in firing line

20 apartments in firing line
KSPCB Files Criminal Cases Against Associations For Polluting Kaggadasapura Lake
The Times of India

Bangalore: Builders beware. Next time you link sewerage lines in the apartments to the nearest water body, you will face legal action.
In a clear message to the violators of law, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has started filing criminal cases against those who pollute water bodies under Water and Air Act. The first set of apartments which have faced the pollution control board’s ire are 20 apartments situated in Bangalore east division.
The Board has filed criminal cases against the president/secretary of the owners association of these erring apartments on September 11 for discharging untreated domestic waste water into Kaggadasapura Lake.
The order issued by KSPCB chairman H C Sharat Chandra, a copy of which was obtained by The Times of India says: “Discharge of domestic waste water into the Kaggadasapura Lake is affecting the quality of water. Section 24 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act prohibits disposal of polluting matters into the stream, well or any other water body.” According to Sharat Chandra, these apartments were issued showcause notices but there was no response from them.
“The apartments that have come up on the periphery have made it a practice to connect sewerage lines to the water bodies. With no vigil or checks by the authorities concerned, builders have found the lakes a best option to dump sewage,” he said.
Inspections carried out by the Board officials had revealed that the 82-acre Kaggadasapura Lake was being polluted by the adjacent residential dwellings by letting untreated sewage into the lake.
The Board has also filed a case against the BWSSB chief engineer for dereliction of duty.