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This report, Citizen’s Agenda for Bellandur/Varthur Catchment, was produced under the Bangalore Environment Trust (BET) by a three-member team that included the Editor of Mapping Malnad and BET Chairman Dr. Yellappa Reddy. This earlier work is included here as part of Mapping Malnad’s documentation of the Dakshina Pinakini River Basin. The report was BET’s official submission to the government and the NGT-appointed Monitoring Committee, constituted following multiple instances of the burning of Bellandur Lake.
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Background
Following the burning of Bellandur Lake, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) ordered its rejuvenation. The Bangalore Environment Trust (BET) found that several interventions undertaken as part of the rejuvenation process were ad hoc and not adequately supported by documented data and scientific analysis. BET’s engagement deepened when its Chairman, Dr. Yellappa Reddy, was nominated by the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to a technical committee advising on the rejuvenation of Bellandur and Varthur Lakes. The BET team subsequently presented a series of recommendations, supported by data and analysis, calling for a critical review of the ongoing interventions
In February 2020, BET, supported by citizen experts and other members of the technical committee, wrote an open letter asking the government to pause and critically evaluate the rejuvenation process. The letter was also submitted to the National Green Tribunal (NGT). In its order dated 13 August 2020, the NGT asked the Monitoring Committee to consider it. BET was subsequently invited to present its analysis to the Committee on 28 September 2020. That analysis was consolidated into the 57-page Citizen’s Agenda for Bellandur/Varthur Catchment.
