Stating that the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is exposing citizens to all kinds of pollution by unscientifically processing at least two-thirds of total solid waste (SW) generated in the city everyday, the High Court of Karnataka on Thursday directed the State government to step in and ensure that the palike complied with mandatory environment laws.
“Don’t force us to pass drastic orders to stop permissions given by the BBMP for constructions and developments in the city, the court cautioned the State.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice S.R. Krishna Kumar passed the order during the hearing of PILs related to city’s garbage problem.
Noticing that of the total 5,700 tonnes of SW generated everyday in the city, only 1,250 is being processed in the eight processing plants (that have a total processing capacity of 2,070 tonnes per day). The remaining 4,450 tonnes are illegally dumped, the HC said, and added that the BBMP’s sorry handling of affairs was directly impacting the environment.
Exposing citizens to all kinds of pollution with unscientific handling of SW is in violation of the fundamental right of Article 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) of the Constitution, the Bench observed in its order.
Observing that the report submitted by the BBMP Commissioner on the generation of SW in the city and the civic body’s compliance with the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 , is ‘very vague’, the Bench said the State government could not be a mute spectator and would have to step in due to serious default by the BBMP. The Bench also said that the Commissioner did not provide all the information wanted by the HC in its September 6 order.
It directed Additional Chief Secretary (Urban Development Department) to file an affidavit on the government’s proposals on SWM Rules, 2016, and other laws by October 11.
Bellahalli dumping
As a counsel for one of the petitioners pointed out to the Bench about the dumping of unprocessed waste near Bellahalli quarry, the Bench directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to depute an officer to assess the extent of illegal dumping at Bellahalli.
