MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)
(a) & (b) Yes. The Hon’ble National Green Tribunal (NGT) vide Order dated 05.01.2018 had directed the State Government of Karnataka to place on record a comprehensive Chart and Action Plan giving squarely status of activity and timelines for achieving the objectives and the agencies responsible for it in order to free the water bodies (Agara Lake, Bellandur Lake and Varthur Lake) from the menace of continuing pollution.
Further, Hon’ble NGT vide Order dated 29.01.2018 has inter-alia, directed the State Government of Karnataka for a pilot study to be carried out of the life cycle of macrophytes and water hyacinth/grass and the biological removal/eradication of such macrophytes by the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore. In the meanwhile, physical removal of these macrophytes from the said lake shall be carried out at regular intervals and compliance report shall be placed before the Tribunal every month. The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board was directed to initiate action for issuance of direction to the said 99 apartment projects to install modular STPs in lieu of STPs, which can be placed in the available free space particularly the basements of such buildings and do not pose any structural threats to the structure of such projects. The State Government of Karnataka was directed to prepare a comprehensive Action Plan (with the timelines as in the case of Bellandur Lake) as regards Agara Lake and Varthur Lake and place it before the Hon’ble NGT, within three weeks, so as to ensure that rejuvenation or remediation of all these three lakes shall proceed simultaneously in a holistic manner. Action Plan regarding municipal solid waste in catchment area shall also be placed before the Hon’ble NGT. Strict vigil shall be maintained regarding discharge of the industrial pollutants/effluents so as to ensure that no such pollution meets the catchment area of this lake.
(c) Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is monitoring the water quality of aquatic resources at 3,000 locations including 540 Rivers at 1,533 locations and Lake, Pond & tanks at 420 locations in association with State Pollution Control Boards/Pollution Control Committees throughout the country. State/UT-wise breakup is provided in Annexure.
(d) & (e) CPCB monitors the ambient water quality in natural environment under the provisions of The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974. The provisions of Water Act, 1974 are being implemented to control pollution in aquatic resources by consent management to regulate discharge of effluents and enforcement of standards in respect of polluting sources.
For conservation and management of identified lakes and wetlands in the country in a holistic manner, this Ministry is currently implementing a scheme namely, National Plan for Conservation of Aquatic Eco-systems (NPCA) on cost sharing basis between Central Government and respective State Governments. The various activities covered under the scheme include interception, diversion and treatment of wastewater, shoreline protection, lake front development, insitu cleaning i.e. desilting & deweeding, storm water management, bioremediation, catchment area treatment, lake beautification, survey & demarcation, biofencing, fisheries development, weed control, biodiversity conservation, education and awareness creation, community participation, etc.
Further, MoEF&CC had notified the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 to regulate various activities within the wetlands. The prohibited activities include reclamation of wetlands, setting up of new industries and expansion of existing industries, solid waste dumping, discharge of untreated sewage, effluents etc. The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017 also prohibit the said activities.
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