Supreme Court upholds NGT order of May 4, 2016, barring constructions on Bellandur wetlands

New Delhi: In a huge win for the residents of Bengaluru struggling to protect its wetlands from encroachment by real estate sharks, the Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld a May 4, 2016, order of the NGT disallowing two real estate companies from further building in the Bellandur catchment area.

They were also asked to pay the structures build so far and also pay fines worth crores for the damage to the environment. The NGT had passed the orders at the instance of Namma Bengaluru Foundation of MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar.

The companies Mantri Tech Zone and Coremind Software Services will have to pay the fine of Rs 117.5 crore and Rs 13.5 crore respectively.


They will also have to demolish structures and vacate the 3 acres 10 gunta area encroached in the Bellandur catchment area. Mantri Tech Zone will have rebuild the Rajakulave (storm water drain) that was diverted to make way for the construction.

The two companies had appealed to the top court to set aside the NGT order. Today a bench led by Justice A.K. Sikri delivered the ruling.

In a release issued to the press, MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar welcomed the order, dubbed it as a huge victory for the people of the city.

“This was a big David vs Goliath legal fight that was fought all the way to the Supreme Court after first petitioning the NGT. The builders with their 6-7 big expensive lawyers were trying to overturn NGT order. Namma Bengaluru Foundation and other citizens... have defeated builder-politico nexus that was looting Bengaluru and Bellandur lake.”