The Hindu - Karnataka 19.08.2009
HC warns civic body over waste dump
Staff Reporter
PIL challenged construction of dump close to source of drinking water
Inspection report of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board considered
Bangalore: The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday came down heavily on the Sakleshpur Town Municipality for the manner in which it had constructed a hazardous waste dump adjacent to Malali village in Sakleshpur taluk of Hassan district.
A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice, P.D. Dinakaran, and Justice V.G. Sabhahit asked the civic body to rectify all defects in the construction of the dump within seven days. It said in case the defects are not removed or rectified, the dump would have to be shifted elsewhere.
The Bench passed the order on a public interest litigation (PIL) by Shantaraju and others of Malali village. The petitioners had challenged the construction of the dump close to a source of drinking water, school and hospital.
The Bench took on record an inspection report of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) which pointed out several defects in the dump site. The Bench asked the report to be placed before the Hassan Deputy Commissioner and asked him to initiate action in case the violations are not rectified.
A Division Bench directed the Chief Secretary to file a report on whether 34 acres of land at Arsinaguppe village in Chikmagalur district was forest land or revenue land.
