Mangaluru: The Karnataka High Court, expressing disappointment at the State Government’s inaction, asked it not to become a silent spectator to the failure of Mangaluru City Corporation to handle solid waste disposal.
It stated that the MCC has failed to obey the court order on waste disposal and environmental protection. It asked the government to file a reply by July 8 regarding the compliance of its order.
Public Interest Litigation filed by Karnataka State Legal Services Authority on the failure to handle waste in a proper way by Mangaluru City Corporation Council came up for hearing before a division bench of the High Court headed by Chief Justice A S Oka, on Monday June 21.
After observing the reports of the Central Environmental Pollution Control Board, Karnataka State Environment Pollution Control Board, and NIT-K Surathkal, the Court expressed anger at the fact that the MCC has not taken serious steps to address its mistakes.
However, the bench asked the State Government to use its powers and take action. It is said that the MCC may have to be superseded and an administrative officer may have to be appointed to run the administration.
Speaking on this issue MCC Mayor Premanand Shetty told News Karnataka that “Our officials are following some of the directions of the court. The solid waste management issues were unaddressed in a scientific way in the past years. So, it is difficult for us to solve those problems within a prescribed timeline. We are working to the best of our abilities.”
He said, “Karnataka State Legal Services Authority filed Public Interest litigation after Pachanady landslide incident. The interim relief is already provided to the victims of the Pachanady incident as per the direction. Even after creating awareness among the people regarding the segregation of the waste, we are getting mixed waste which is increasing the difficulties in further processing.”
“However, we are trying our best in segregating solid waste in their origin. It is difficult to achieve the target in a prescribed timeline. The Legal Services Authority alleged that there is a chance of another landslide in dumping yards. However, NIT-K discarded the possibility of this. We have strictly warned all the gram panchayats, city areas to segregate the waste scientifically before sending it to the dumping yard,” he added.
