The Hindu 12.11.2010
‘Civic bodies must set up waste treatment plants'
BANGALORE: All municipal bodies are mandated by the law to set up sewage and waste treatment plants and there cannot be any compromise on the issue, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) told the Karnataka High Court on Thursday.
The court was hearing a petition by the Challekere Municipality challenging the registration of a private complaint before a jurisdictional magistrate court against the then Commissioner and then municipal chief by the KSPCB.
The civic agency said it could not set up waste treatment plants as it had no money. Moreover, the KSPCB had taken a unilateral decision in registering a criminal case against its officials. It had urged the court to stay the proceedings and also quash the private complaint.
Opposing the petition, KSPCB advocate Gangadhar Sangolli submitted that all municipalities are required under the Air and Water Act to set up treatment plants. The reason that such plants cannot be set up due to lack of finance cannot be accepted, he said.
He said no effluent or waste could be directly discharged into water bodies and into open areas. All wastes have to be treated and the board is tasked with the responsibility of ensuing that the pollution laws are obeyed.
