The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday ordered issue of notice to the State government, Ministry of Environment and Forests and various civic agencies on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking directions to ensure that solid wastes are segregated at source by citizens of Bangalore, and for proper solid waste management.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice Aravind Kumar passed the order on the petition filed by Kavitha Shankar, a resident of Indiranagar.
The petitioner also said the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) should collect only residual waste that is separated from recyclable waste from houses and offices.
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Complaining that existing waste landfill site of the BBMP at Mavallipura had resulted in pollution of air and groundwater, and does not generate compost, the petitioner sought a direction to the BBMP to store only residual waste at landfills.
Pointing out that there are areas earmarked for solid waste disposal in the Master Plan 2015, the petitioner sought a direction to Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to ensure that every layout had designated areas for dry waste collection centre and compost plants.
The petition also sought a court direction to show a one-minute film on the benefits of solid waste management at the source at the start of every movie in the theatres so as to educate people in this regard.
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Special magistrate
She made a plea for another directive to the State government to appoint a Special Executive Magistrate under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure by recruiting retired government officials or retired civil servants or ex-defence personnel, who may be nominated by the residents welfare associations, to oversee implementation and enforcement of segregation of waste at source in every ward.