The High Court on Monday directed the BBMP to publish the reports
prepared by the BBMP Expert Committee and Technical Committee on solid
waste management on its website and invite objections from the public
before making rules to implement solid waste management effectively.

The
court said suggestions can be sent directly to the BBMP through either
through email or file them before the court during the next hearing of a
bunch of public interest litigations (on June 28) filed seeking an
efficient solid waste management system in the city.

A division
bench consisting of Justice N Kumar and Justice B V Nagarathna also
directed the State government to place the details on the orders passed
by the court in related cases and the action taken by it based on them
before the next hearing.

The court also directed the government to
frame rules to regulate the construction waste and make provisions to
impose hefty fines against those who violate the rules.

Asking the
BBMP Commissioner Siddaiah, who is set to retire by the end of this
month, to assist the court in dealing with the cases related to the
solid waste management, the bench observed,

“Siddaiah has been
efficient in implementing the orders of the court and forthright in
making his submissions before the court. Even the petitioners want him
to continue as the commissioner till the issue is resolved”.

The
court also directed the BBMP’s Special Committee for Solid Waste
Management to continue to assist the court even after Siddaiah demits
office as the BBMP Commissioner. It also asked Siddaiah to make
suggestions to deal with issues that have not been dealt with in both
the mentioned reports.

The court directed the petitioners to
implead bulk generators like hoteliers, contractors, builders,
industrialists etc through their respective associations to enable the
court to pass the orders in the case after hearing all the
stakeholders. 

During the course of the hearing, the court
observed, “There should be no discrimination against the rich or poor
while dealing with waste. After all waste is a waste. People who litter
or dump construction waste indiscriminately should be severely dealt
with. A fine of `5,000 should be imposed for the first violation and the
subsequent violation should attract a fine of `10,000. Provisions
should also be made to cut off the water and electricity connections and
to cancel the licences of the repeated offenders.”