Stating that it is now time to prosecute officials of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for failing to take steps to check air pollution, the High Court of Karnataka on Thursday asked BBMP counsel to submit names of the officials who were supposed to implement directions of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) for clearing dust from roads and footpaths to check air pollution.
Also, the court directed the KSPCB counsel to submit a draft of the criminal complaint for prosecuting these officials under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act and the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D.H. Waghela and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy issued the oral directions during the hearing of a PIL petition suo motu initiated by the court on city’s noise pollution.
“You are giving same answer even after a year. Dust on the roads is not cleaned. Are you ridiculing our orders,” the Bench asked BBMP counsel.
The Bench also asked the KSPCB to show some guts to take action against government servants for failing to implement its directions.
The Bench asked the authorities to popularise public transport system so that people stop using own vehicle.
