Garbage disposa HC directs Palike to form ward committees

The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to constitute committees in each ward of the City to monitor garbage disposal, before January 21.

The direction was issued in a public interest litigation filed by G R Mohan, a city-based advocate and others alleging failure on the part of the Palike in disposing garbage generated in the City. 

The Division Bench comprising Justices N Kumar and B V Nagarathna observed that absence of local committees even after five years of formation of the Palike showed government apathy. The Court said that the respective corporators should be appointed as chairpersons of the ward committees.

The Bench pointed out that a majority of the garbage contractors were hand in glove with corporators and that corporators were having their say in garbage disposal. 

The government advocate submitted that the responsibility of forming the ward committees rests with the Palike and not  with the government. He said the government was prepared to form committees if the Court issued a direction. The petitioners had sought a direction from the court ro supersede the Palike for its failure to tackle garbage crisis.

Time granted

The High Court has granted Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation one week’s time to file its statement on shifting of the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar from the precincts of the Vidhana Soudha.

During the hearing of a public interest litigation, a Division Bench of the High Court said that it was concerned about the safety of the statue and Metro work should not be carried with the statue at the present location. The Bench said it was better to shift the statue temporarily. The State government has sought an application seeking two-month time to shift the statue.