The order from the Lok Adalat, presided over by High Court Judge D.V. Shylendra Kumar, came following the observation of environmentalist A.N. Yellappa Reddy, also a part of the Bench, who said that an aerosol effect was being created around the airport where around 500 flights operate daily. “This was causing air pollution with depletion of oxygen,” Mr. Reddy said, adding that the 15,000 motor vehicles to and from the airport were causing air pollution.

The Bench said that as parts of Chickballapur, Bangalore Urban and Bangalore Rural districts face air pollution, a comprehensive plan to have a green belt around the airport was needed. “The plan should be ready within three months and the action taken report should be filed before the next adalat,” Justice Kumar directed.

Deputy Commissioner of Bangalore Rural district S. Shankar Narayana informed the adalat that a Rs. 8.8 crore project proposal for afforestation around the airport had been submitted to BIAAPA already.

Mining licences

The Lok Adalat also directed the Mines and Geology Department to cancel mining licences within a one-km radius of Bannerghatta National Park after the Forest Department identified 29 cases of mining.

Justice Kumar said that the mining was affecting both people and wildlife, and that the department officials, without citing technical reasons, should cancel the licences. He directed the Forest Department to acquire 1,000 acres from the Revenue Department to create drinking water facility for elephants to prevent human-animal conflict.

He asked the Department of Industries and Commerce to prepare an industrial atlas for the State that would identify ways of disposing of industrial waste in a comprehensive manner, and for the action taken report to be filed within six months.