THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA HAS DIRECTED THE `EMPRI` TO CONDUCT AN ENQUIRY AND SUBMIT THE REPORT OR FINDINGS TO THE COURT REGARDING THE ILLEGAL/UNAUTHORISED CONSTRUCTIONS AND FORMATION OF LAYOUTS IN THE THIPPAGONDANAHALLY RESERVOIR ZONE(Tippagondanahally catchment area) FROM 2003 TO TILL DATE AND CRIMINAL ACTION MAY BE INITIATED BY THE KSPCB AGAINST THE PERPETRATORS OF THE CRIME (VIOLATION)
THE LAYOUTS FORMED IN THIS ZONE AND THE BUILDINGS (TOO MANY FACTORIES AND WAREHOUSES) BUILT IN THIS AREA IS LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED AND CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS WILL BE INITIATED AGAINST THE OWNERS AND THE TENANTS WILL BE EVICTED/VACATED BY THE AUTHORITIES.
A PRESS REPORT
The HC on Monday directed the Environmental Management and Policy Research Institute (EMPRI) to submit a comprehensive study report on Tippagondanahalli (TG Halli) reservoir catchment area.
Meanwhile, EMPRI will have to submit an interim report by April 27 on the prevailing situation in and around the protective zones classified around the catchment area in 2003.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice Ashok B. Hinchigeri issued the directions after accepting the draft terms and references for the study submitted by Senior Counsel and amicus curiae Sajan Poovayya. The State government, the KSPCB and the petitioners, who have put up alleged illegal structures in the protective zones, have promised to cooperate.
Meanwhile, the Bench made it clear that any further violations of the 2003 notification, which classified catchment area into different protective zones, will be dealt sternly as the court has already stayed the July 2014 notification through which the government withdrew the 2003 notification.
EMPRI has been told to conduct a study and produce an accurate report on the exact state of affairs in the catchment area in general and protective zones 2, 3 and 4 in particular. It is expected to conduct surveys with photographs, maps and sketches to eliminate any factual controversy with respect to the course and location of the Arkavathi and the Kumudavathy rivers, and the constructions and developments that have taken place in the three protective zones. The study will have to identify all superstructures and infrastructures that came up after classification of zones in 2003, nature of such structures, verifying permission obtained, present use, etc.
Other tasks include estimating yield of the reservoir for the past 30 years, determination of availability of water in the two rivers, , specific reasons for deterioration of water quality, recommending methods for rejuvenating the two rivers and suggesting permissibility of developments and constructions in the catchment area.