Deadline for removing the Farangipete Fish Market ends today
Temporary market alongside the national highway has been constructed
# Traders demand to identify a location and set up a permanent market
Bantwala, Jan 15: The deadline given by the Railway Department to clear the fish market that was in operation on the land belonging to the Railway Department near Farangipete national highway in the limits of Pudu gram panchayat will end on January 15.
The fish market was operating in the Pudu gram panchayat area on the old road of Farangpete for few years. However, the panchayat, on the pretext of constructing a new panchayat building, shifted the fish market near bus stand on the highway side.
The market was again shifted to a vacant land of the Railway Department on the other side of the road while clearing the highway side shops by the Deputy Commissioner. The life of fish traders is hit as the railway department has now issued a deadline to remove the market from its land.
Site inspection near the tenth milestone: Deputy Commissioner Sasikant Senthil, who had recently visited Farangipet to identify a location for constructing the fish market, inspected a place near the tenth milestone here. However, due to unavailability of a permanent land for the fish market, the Deputy Commissioner instructed to temporarily shift the fish market on the area near the existing one. However, it is not appropriate for fish sellers. Moreover, the land belongs to the highway. Gram panchayat president Ramlan says that a temporary market is now being built near the highway.
The fish traders, who were hoping for a permanent fish market, have once again disappointed as a temporary market is being constructed as of now.
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Karnataka HC sets aside NGT order against MEG over Halasuru Lake pollution
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has quashed a May 20, 2022, National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that held the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) and Centre, Bengaluru, responsible for pollution in Halasuru Lake.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind ruled that the NGT's order, which imposed an environmental compensation of ₹2.94 crore on MEG, was issued without granting them an opportunity to be heard, violating principles of natural justice.
The court has remanded the case back to the NGT, Southern Zone, Chennai, for reconsideration. The NGT has been directed to decide afresh on the imposition of environmental compensation after providing a fair hearing to MEG.
However, the High Court ordered MEG to deposit ₹1 crore with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) as per the August 2024 NGT directive. This deposit will remain subject to the outcome of the fresh proceedings.
The NGT initiated the case in March 2016 following a news report that alleged pollution by a slaughterhouse, MEG, and the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). The BWSSB was also directed to pay ₹1 crore as environmental compensation.
Additional Solicitor General Arvind Kamath, representing MEG, argued that an open stormwater drain under BWSSB flows through MEG’s premises into the lake, contributing to the pollution. He stated that the sewage load from MEG is minimal and plans for a 1,200-KLD sewage treatment plant (STP) are underway.
The bench noted that no proper liability assessment had been conducted against MEG, and no opportunity was provided for them to present their defence before the demand notice was issued.
The matter will now be re-examined by the NGT.
