The Indian Express 02.04.2013
Illegal garbage dumping: HC asks state for action plan
THE Bombay High Court asked the Maharashtra government Monday to formulate an action plan for tackling the problem of illegal garbage dumping in state.
The court also asked the government to submit an action plan on identifying and acquiring land for the same by Wednesday.
A division bench of justices A M Khanwilkar and A P Bhangale was hearing a set of petitions seeking action against illegal dumping in various areas of the state.
The petitions seek the implementation of the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules of the state government.
Responding to the petitions, the judges said the process of identifying and acquiring land should not take more than two weeks "if the government focuses on it."
The court further said if an action plan with a specific time frame is created, departmental action can be taken against concerned officials if they fail to complete the work within specified period.
The judges said contempt proceedings can also be initiated against officials in such a case.
The case has now been placed for further hearing on April 3.
In the previous hearing, the state government had filed an affidavit in the court giving details of the number of dumping grounds in various municipal corporations of the state approved by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).
According to the figures stated, only five municipal corporations have landfill sites approved by the MPCB- Navi Mumbai, Nagpur, Vasai-Virar, Nasik and Pune. Further, dumping grounds at 141 out of a total of 230 municipal councils have valid clearances.
The affidavit was filed by Shreekant Singh, principal secretary of the state Urban Development Department (UDD).
Senior citizen crushed by bus
A SENIOR citizen died after being crushed by a luxury bus in Borivali Monday morning. The MHB Colony police have arrested the bus driver for causing death due to negligence.
Police said the deceased, Nalini Lakhani (72), was trying to cross the road when the bus hit her at around 5.30 am on Link Road in Borivali (west) near Don Bosco school. Lakhani is survived by two sons.
Eyewitnesses said Lakhani was caught between the wheels of the bus and was dragged for about 20 feet.
"The bus was at a high speed as traffic was less on the road," said an officer with the MHB Colony police station.
Lakhani was rushed to Bhagwati hospital where she was declared dead on arrival.
She was on her way to a nearby temple from her residence in Horizon Park, Borivali (west) police said.
The police have seized the bus and the bus driver has been identified as Shamsher Singh, 42.
Singh has been booked under section 304 (a) (culpable homicide) of the Indian Penal Code. The police have sent the blood samples of the accused for analysis to find out whether he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
