High Court seeks status report on trash dumping in lake

The High Court of Karnataka has directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to submit the status report on illegal dumping of debris and waste in Subramanyapura Lake in Uttarahalli of Bangalore South.

Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on the garbage crisis in the City on December 13, the Division Bench of Justice N Kumar and B V Nagarathna took note of the Deccan Herald report on illegal dumping of debris and garbage in the lake.

Environment Support Group (ESG), the petitioner, had drawn the attention of the judges to the news report that appeared on November 15.

The Bench observed: “It is pointed out from the news report in Deccan Herald that the garbage is dumped in Subramanyapura Lake in Uttarahalli in Bangalore South constituency. It is stated that, over the last one month, hundreds of truckloads of garbage were dumped on the embankment.

Local residents objected, but were bullied into silence by the garbage contractors. In fact, a photograph of the truck carrying the garbage dumping is also published.” The judges directed the BBMP to submit a status report about the lake.

The petition pertains to the garbage problem in the City and the manner in which waste is dumped at the landfill sites. The Bench noticed that the collection and transportation of garbage has emerged as a problem because of the fight among the contractors. It also took note of the problems faced by villagers living around the landfill sites.

The Bench directed that the 36 proposals pertaining to bio-mining of waste should be considered and finalised so that the bio-mining activities start at the earliest. The Palike submitted that within 15 days, the proposals would be finalised and appropriate orders would be issued.

About plastic waste management, the Court ordered that the recycling of plastic should be carried out in accordance with Indian standards. It also directed for safe collection, storage, segregation, transportaion, processing and disposal of plastic waste.

The Court ordered the setting up of collection centres for plastic waste, by involving manufacturers. At the same time, the Court asked the BBMP to create awareness among the stakeholders. It directed the Palike to encourage the reuse of plastic waste in road construction and for other purposes by adopting suitable technology.

The Court also asked the Palike to entrust officials with the job of keeping a track of bulk generators, on how the garbage is segregated and transported.

In reply, the Palike gave an undertaking that within two days, an official will be appointed to exclusively deal with bulk waste generators.

The Court also underlined the need for public participation in solid waste management and segregation at source.