Unauthorized dumping of solid waste within Madikeri town limits: Karnataka HC directs KSPCB chairman to submit response

BENGALURU: The high court has directed the in-charge chairman of the Karnataka state pollution control board (KSPCB) to submit an affidavit indicating as to what action the board proposes to take vis-a-vis unauthorized dumping of solid waste at Stone hill, Karnangeri, Madikeri town.
A division bench headed by chief justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka gave this direction while strongly disapproving the inaction on the part of local officers of KSPCB to prevent the illegal dumping of waste. The bench also pointed out that the board is not helpless in the matter.
The court also took the state government to task for failure to take action against the City Municipal Council for flouting Solid Waste management rules as permission for dumping waste had lapsed last year itself.
In the PIL, SRVK Welfare Association, a local residents welfare association has claimed that the Karnangeri site is situated within the town limits of Madikeri on top of a hill, in close proximity to heavily populated residential areas like Subramanyanagar, Rifle Range area, DAR Quarters, FMKMC college, New Court complex, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Zilla Panchayat office, etc.
The petitioner’s counsel drew the attention of the court to incessant rains in the area and submitted that the garbage mound will also create a serious health problem for the local people.