JOIN US The Karnataka High Court on Monday directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to file a status report on garbage generated in each ward in the City, and form ward committees at the earliest.
Hearing a batch of petitions filed by Kavitha Shankar, G R Mohan and Environment Support Group (ESG), the Division Bench comprising Justices N Kumar and B V Nagarathna directed the Palike to complete the process of appointment of members to the ward committees within 15 days.
During the hearing, BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah submitted an action taken report, which stated that the Palike had issued a memorandum on January 15 appointing 198 BBMP officers as secretaries to each ward committee.
“In pursuance of the resolution, the composition of the ward committees, in accordance with Section 13H of the Karnataka Municipal Act, 1976, is being worked out. In view of certain procedural issues involved in finalising the list of members for each of the 198 wards committees, the first meeting of the ward committees is yet to take place. The entire process is expected to be completed in two weeks, including convening of the first meeting of the ward committees,” the status report said.
The BBMP also sought clarification on reservation in ward committees for the backward classes.
To which the Bench said: “Since corporators have given the list of nominees, the BBMP Commissioner has to scrutinise and ensure that there is no violation of Sections 25 and 26 of the KMC Act. If a person is disqualified as a corporator, he cannot be a nominee. The qualification for a member is that he should not have a criminal background and should be a resident of the same locality.”
The Bench directed the Palike to expedite the formation of the ward committees even if there were only three members, instead of the required 10.
Processing garbage
Siddaiah submitted that 30 acres had been identified at Chikkabelavangala, about 43 km from Bangalore, to be handed over to Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) to process fresh garbage. He said another 15 acres adjacent to KCDC premises would be allotted for setting up another plant.
The Court then directed the BBMP to consider the requirement of KCDC and ensure garbage is processed at the earliest.
Subramanyapura lake
Siddaiah submitted that the Bangalore Development Authority would fence the Subramanyapura lake and the adjoining revenue land soon after the ground demarcation is done.
The entire process will be completed within 10 days, he said. He also furnished the minutes of the meeting and the action taken report (of the BDA) in connection with the conservation of the lake.