Observing that a “mafia” is coming in the way of solving the garbage problem of the city, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday directed the State government to take steps to curb the mafia, which include MLAs, councillors, officials, police, and private contractors.
Also, the court directed the Commissioner of the BBMP to take legal action against those who prevent the civic body from establishing waste processing units in their localities. These include retired bureaucrats, judges and elected representatives.
The Bench also directed MLAs and councillors to assist the BBMP identify land within the respective Assembly constituency for processing waste. It also directed the Principal Secretary of the Urban Development Department and Member-Secretary of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to be present at every hearing of the garbage problem so that they can take decisions on behalf of the government instantly. A Division Bench comprising Justice N. Kumar and Justice B.V. Nagarathna issued the directions when women members of Hasiru Dala, a NGO, said that they were “threatened” by people close to garbage contractors, the local MLA and councillor for encouraging people in HSR Layout to segregate waste and preventing transportation of un-segregated waste as per the court’s earlier directions.
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The NGO also pointed out that one of its vehicles was “hijacked” by some men associated with a contractor and police did not register a complaint in this regard. Instead, they were forced to negotiate with the local MLA and others on this issue.
Meanwhile, a member of the BBMP’s expert committee on municipal solid waste management told the Bench that the BBMP is unable to set up dry waste collection centres in about 50 wards due to stiff opposition from retired IAS or IPS officers. In RMV Extension, a retired judge is as coming in the way of setting up a waste processing unit.