Is a mound of garbage festering in our markets a violation of human rights? The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission thinks so, and has registered a case against the officials of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for failing to clear waste piled up at the vegetable market in K.R. Puram.
Taking up a suo motu case after a newspaper article highlighted the piling waste at the site for months, KSHRC believed the chance of spread of diseases was high and the stench made the surrounding areas unlivable.
KSHRC member C.G. Hungund has ordered the registration of the case against BBMP Commissioner as well as Joint Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the K.R. Puram division. BBMP has been asked to submit an action taken report within six weeks.
“The trouble caused by waste on the streets is a violation of human rights — the right to have clean air and hygienic surroundings,” said Mr. Hungund. While the commission has in the past taken on BBMP during the protests at Mandur landfill and for burning garbage, Mr. Hungund hoped that the latest order would at least see the civic body ramp up their efforts to clear garbage. BBMP officials were unavailable for a comment.
