[1]With garbage continuing to pile up all across the city, the high court on Friday pulled up the civic body, warning that it will not hesitate to pass an order to supercede it if the elected corporators interfered in waste disposal.
The court also directed BBMP to submit an action taken report by November 5.
Hearing PIL by advocate G.R. Mohan who had sought superceding of BBMP over the issue, the bench, headed by Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen, said, “Everything is only on paper... Every citizen in Bengaluru has been suffering because of the garbage problem. Every citizen has a right to see garbage is disposed of properly by the BBMP“. Taking the BBMP to task, the Karnataka High Court on Friday again warned the city corporation that it would be superceded if any political interference comes to light in garbage disposal and tendering process.
“'We don't know what other duty you have, but you clean the city first,“ the court said, while hearing a PIL, which seeks directions against the palike for mismanaging garbage disposal.The bench observed that there is no greenery left in the city and only garbage can be seen everywhere.
“You file an affidavit stating that you are taking up a new project to dispose of garbage, but you have not implemented anything. It is the right of the people to live in a clean environment. Who gave you the power to take that right from the people?“ it asked.
BBMP commissioner Rajneesh Goel, who was present at the court, submitted that the Palike is clearing 4,000 tonnes of garbage every day and that all the streets are clean. The BBMP has also saved Rs 200 crore by creating 89 pack ages in 198 wards. The present contract will end and the new contractors will take over from November 15, he added.
Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen retorted: “Who asked you to save the money? You clean the city first. Local, national and international media have been reporting every day that garbage has not been cleared in the city.
Do you think these reports are false?“ Mr Goel submitted, “We agree that there is still garbage on some of the streets, but it is not as rampant as it is alleged by the petitioner. The BBMP is launching a pilot project for the people to send SMSs if they find garbage on their streets. They can even upload pictures if they come across garbage on any street and it would be cleared immediately. We will soon start segregation and waste-to-power unit.“
He said that bulk waste generators, like apartments, hotels and wedding halls, have been given two months to make their own arrangements, like setting up of biogas plants or composting units on their premises, to dispose of garbage. They have to make arrangements to transport garbage before Decemberend otherwise action will be taken against them.
The bench ordered the BBMP to file a progress report by November 5 and adjourned case for further hearing. Premji calls for citizens' movement IT czar Azim Premji on Friday asked Bengalureans to start a citizens' movement and stage protests against tonnes of garbage rotting on the streets. “I think there should be a strong citizens' movement against this; you agitate. It's ruining your health, it's ruining the health of your parents and it's ruining the health of your children,“ the Wipro chairman said. Mr Premji expressed concern over the “spurt in viral fever cases in Bengaluru“ and waste materials being released into lakes, causing pollution. “I think it's a very serious problem,“ he said. The waste is released without being treated into rivers, part of which is used for drinking water purposes, he said. “In many parts of the city, the garbage is now extending to the streets.“
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