High Court permits Yard House Brewery to function in Bellandur Lake

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Friday permitted Yard House Brewery Pvt. Ltd. to run their business of a bar and restaurant situated in the Bellandur lake area on the condition that the units should not discharge any effluent, either treated or untreated, into Bellandur lake.

The Bench made it clear that the brewery must not operate till there is an inspection by the joint inspection team and an analysis of effluents is conducted.

The Court also directed the Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) to restore the electricity connection in accordance with the law to the bar and restaurant.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee and Justice P.S. Dinesh Kumar passed the interim order on the petition filed by the company questioning the closure order issued by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board and disconnection of power supply to their premises by the Bescom.

The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s (KSPCB’s) direction was based on the National Green Tribunal’s order that “all the industries which have been located in the catchment area of Bellandur Lake and were discharging their effluent (treated or untreated) into the water body would be closed forthwith. No industry would be permitted to operate unless they have been subjected to inspection by the joint inspection team and the effluent has been found to be within permissible limit.”

A counsel for the petitioner-company pointed out to the Bench that Yard House was running a brewery in the ground floor of the building, and a bar and restaurant on the first, second and third floors. The counsel said that the brewery on the ground floor was closed by them following KSPCB’s direction. However, it questioned the legality of the order for closure of even the bar and restaurant by the KSPCB.