From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Oct 30: National Green Tribunal’s (NGT) Southern Regional Monitoring Committee headed by Justice P Jyothimani slammed Bengalureans for non-segregation of waste and said just 50% of the households in Bengaluru segregatebiodegradable from non-biodegradable waste.
Justice P Jyothimani while speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Tuesday asked the State Government to frame a Solid Waste Management (SWM) Policy based on the Centre’s SWM Rules, 2016. The panel held a meeting with officials of the urban development departments of seven southern states and the BBMP and said segregation of biodegradable from non-biodegradable waste at the household level was essential to solve the garbage problem in the State capital.
Justice Jyothimani said many States have not yet framed the SWM policy and urban local bodies have been following by-laws for SWM disposal.
Noting that many states have not been following 2016 rules, the panel said the problem of SWM is expected to increase with the growth of the population in cities and towns.
ustice Jyothimani said the Urban Local Bodies (ULBs), and panchayat raj bodies must impose penalty on those who violate the rules.
The panel held its second meeting in Bengaluru and reviewed the status of implementation of SWM Rules by state governments.
It had held the first meeting in Chennai earlier.
The panel members also visited Compost Development Corporation (KCDC) which was one of the seven waste processing plants set up by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for handling the municipal solid waste generated in the city.
The panel, however, appreciated the SWM system adopted by the Stae’s Urban Development Department of the.
The panel covers Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Lakshdweeep Islands.
CID probe likely
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, BBMP Commissioner NManjunath said the State government is likely to ask the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe confirmed irregularities in passing of bills of civic works undertaken in three Assembly constituencies of Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Malleswaram and Gandhinagar between 2008 and 2011.
Retired High Court Judge H.N. Nagmohan Das in his report to the State government confirmed irregularities in passing of bills of civic works undertaken in three Assembly constituencies.
The scam is estimated to be around Rs1,500 crore.