BENGALURU: The
Karnataka high court on Friday issued series of directions to the state government,
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) and the
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to ensure that the seven municipal solid waste plants set up in Bengaluru city and
Ramanagara district limits operate to their optimum level at the earliest in a protected environment.
A special division bench comprising Justice BS Patil and Justice BV Nagarathna has directed KSPCB to provide all necessary clearances to start these plants which are already commissioned in Kannahalli, Chikkanagamangala, KCDC at Koodlu (500 tonnes per day), Doddabidarahalli, Subbarayanapalya, ad Lingadeeranahalli (200 tonnes per day) and Sigehalli (150 tonnes per day) by following required norms within two weeks so that the plants will be made functional within a month.
KSPCB has been asked to take action regarding declaration of buffer zones surrounding these plants as per Solid Waste Management rules 2016 and the state government has been asked to issue necessary notifications.
Environmental engineers
The court has also directed the state’s chief secretary to take immediate action to post Environmental engineers who are presently assigned different duties to be withdrawn from the said duties and post them to these plants located at Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru city and SP of Ramanagara district have been directed to provide necessary protection to officials, employees engaged in transportation of segregated waste and vehicles inside and outside these plants.
The BBMP has been asked to provide the services of Marshalls to guard and protect these plants and also ensure that CCTVs are installed at strategic places.
Representative image.
