JOIN US182 ward panels formed: Palike to HC
The Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Monday informed the High Court that it has constituted 182 ward committees out of 198 wards in the City.
The Court has asked the Palike to upload the names of the committee members on its website.
Submitting the Palike report on the action taken to tackle garbage menace in the City, the counsel for the civic agency stated that some of the ward committees had already conducted their meetings.
The Special Bench comprising Justices N Kumar and B V Nagarathna is hearing a batch of public interest litigations on the garbage crisis in the City.
The counsel told the Court that the process was on for forming committees for the remaining 16 wards.
“A list of persons to be appointed as members in respect of 15 wards has been found not in accordance with law and it may take a week to finalise the names,” he said. He also informed that the panel has not been constituted in one ward since its corporator has been disqualified by the court.
The Bench directed that the secretary of the ward committee should act as its chairperson till the councillor can represent the said ward in accordance with law.
The Bench directed the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) to ensure that enough space is reserved for disposing garbage while forming new layouts in the City.
It said the civic amenity sites could be made use of for the purpose.
Fire at Mandur landfill
The Court also directed the Palike to take steps to control the fire at Mandur landfill and work with Karnataka State Pollution Control Board to prevent further damage.
It said steps should be taken to check the harmful effects of gases emanating from the site.
Petitioner G R Mohan brought to the notice of the Court that garbage was being dumped on road corners.
The Bench asked him to submit photographs of such illegal dumping to the Palike within two days for necessary action.
The Bench further directed that the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) near Singasandra on Hosur Road should work in three shifts to speed up garbage processing. The Corporation is presently working in one shift processing 200 tonnes of garbage per day, the Court noted.
It said residents of villagers in the vicinity of the garbage processing plant should not resort to protests.
“If protests are back in place, the city police chief should provide necessary protection to the unit. With the present scenario in mind, protesting is not a good sign towards a solution,” the Bench observed.
The Palike told the Court that 15 acres of land adjoining the garbage processing plant has been handed over to KCDC to provide space for its job.