Lashing out at the State government, Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), garbage contractors and elected representatives interfering in waste disposal process, the High Court on Wednesday asked what action the government has taken to solve the garbage problem in the City and said that the court will monitor the situation on a regular basis.
Hearing a petition by Kavitha Shankar and others, the division bench comprising Justice N Kumar and Justice B V Nagarathna said: “The garbage problem is becoming an emergency and might go out of hand. We would like to monitor the situation on a weekly basis.”
Stating that dumping of garbage outside the City is not a solution to the problem, the court emphasised on the need to educate people about it. The bench directed the Secretary, Urban Development Department, member Secretary, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and Managing Director, Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) to be present before the Court during the next hearing.
Dry waste collection
The bench questioned the steps taken to resolve the problem along with the action taken to implement the High Court orders. The BBMP commissioner, who was present before the Court, submitted that in 146 wards, dry waste collection centres have been set up, of which 120 are functioning. He assured the court that these centres will be extended to all the wards in the City.
Adding to it one of the petitioners submitted that in some wards, the top government officials who reside there are objecting to setting up the centres. The bench then suggested BBMP to set up at lease one waste processing centre in each constituency.
When the BBMP submitted about the problem at Mandur and how it is affecting the waste disposal of the City, the bench also orally said that the garbage should not be sent to Mandur after December 1 as it was discussed with the State government.
MLAs come under fire
The petitioners pointed out that though the apartments are required to make their own arrangements to dispose waste, the BBMP continues to collect it from them. Some elected representatives bulldoze efforts to promote segregation of waste by threatening people engaged in the process, the petitioners claimed.
The bench was unhappy over it and strongly said: “Do you want rowdy elements to run this country? MLAs are not everything. They must be shown their places. Tell the people who is creating problem. Let them know whom they have voted for. If a disease spreads, will the MLAs stop it? Call them here. We will show them what the law is. MLA’s loyalty must be to the Constitution not to a few voters.”
Criticising the government, the Court said, “What is the interest the chief minister has shown in one year other than blaming the previous government? It is good that he has woken up. We want to know how the government wants to break the nexus of MLAs, contractors and the police,” Justice Kumar said.
The bench directed the BBMP Commissioner to identify a suitable place for setting up processing plant and observed: “MLAs’ non-cooperation in this work shows their mala fide intention. If anybody interferes with setting up of these plants, the commissioner shall take steps against them in accordance with law.”