'Soudhas, High Court should set example on waste management'

The High Court on Friday orally observed that Vidhana Soudha, Vikasa Soudha and the High Court of Karnataka have to set examples on garbage management to educate other government bodies on handling solid waste management.

While hearing a batch of petitions with regard to garbage management, a division bench comprising Justice N Kumar and Justice B V Nagarathna directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to submit a report on what the bulk generators of garbage were doing with regard to garbage disposal.

The bench passed an interim order directing the BBMP to hold a meeting with the Defence, Railways, BMTC, Besco­m and other government bodies on handling garbage by bulk generators.

The bench observed that railway stations and bus stations usually are crowded locations which generate huge amounts of garbage. There is a need to have a good garbage management system in place at these locations.

Meat waste

The bench directed the State government to conduct a survey of Mavallipura landfill where the residents have complained about meat waste being dumped.

The bench directed the Assistant Executive Engineer, BBMP, and the Deputy Commissioner of the district to meet the demands of the local residents. The bench also directed the government to ensure necessary medical aid to the residents who are affected by the illegal dumping of meat waste.

Hearing a plea filed by the Air Force Station, Yelahanka with regard to garbage dumped in Mavallipura attracting birds causing problems to Air Force flights, the bench gave the liberty to the Air Force station authorities to inspect the location of the landfill anytime to ensure no fresh garbage is dumped and the existing ones are cleared.

The division bench also passed orders in terms of appointment of chairman and vice-chairman to the Karnataka Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) which was under the purview of the State government.

The BBMP commissioner has been appointed chairman of KCDC and Special Commissioner (Solid Waste Management) has been appointed vice-chairman of the Corporation. The bench asked the BBMP to bring these appointments to the notice of the government.Road on defence land

The High Court on Friday directed the BBMP  to go ahead with the construction of the road on the periphery of the City connecting Chellaghatta village with the City on the defence land, allegedly encroached upon by Golf Link Software Private Limited.

During the hearing of a petition filed by Gold Link Software Private Limited challenging the notice issued by Defence officials seeking explanation for encroaching upon the defence land, the court said that it would decide the land dispute on merits and that should come in the way of the construction of the road. Justice Ram Mohan Reddy directed the BBMP to construct the road at the earliest.

Clarification sought

The Karnataka State Minorities Educational Institutions Managements Federation has filed an interlocutory application in the High Court seeking clarification on the guidelines to be followed on providing infrastructure at a school. 

According to the application the Education department, Home department and the State government have issued various guidelines as regards the infrastructure at schools. Justice S Abdul Nazeer directed the State government to file their objections and adjourned the next hearing to January 6, 2015.