Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)

Bengaluru, Dec 24: All the works pertaining to Smart City project of Mangaluru that are undergoing in city corporation limits will be stopped temporarily.

Akshy Sridhar, managing director of Mangaluru Smart City Limited and commissioner of Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC), informed the high court (HC) on Wednesday December 23 that the respective contractors will be asked to stall the works related to Smart City project of Mangaluru, till the rules of construction and demolition waste management of 2016 are followed.

The divisional bench of justice A S Oak and S Vishwajit Shetty conducted inquiry on the PIL filed by Karnataka Legal Services Authority on the destruction that is caused by the solid waste landfilling unit at Pachhanady and Mandara of MCC limits.

MCC commissioner Akshy Sridhar attended the inquiry through video conferencing. He was subjected to inquiry in the question answer method by the judicial bench. The bench asked the commissioner whether rules are being followed in the implementation of works related to Smart city project of Mangaluru. It also asked him whether he will stop the work, if the rules are not followed.

The commissioner of MCC started to give detailed explanations for the question asked by the judicial bench. However, he was cut short by the judges who asked him to give a direct 'Yes' or 'No' answer to their question. Then, the commissioner said that the rules are not being followed and the contractors of all the works of Smart city project, that are undergoing at present, will be asked to stop the same till the rules of construction and demolition waste management of 2016 are followed.

The bench, which recorded the statement of the commissioner, said, "During the next inquiry, let the commissioner submit the consolation certificate about the following of rules in the next inquiry. If that certificate satisfies the court, then action will be taken on withdrawing the statement of MCC commissioner on the stoppage of works."

At the same time, the court also directed the Karnataka Environmental Control Board to consider the appeals submitted by Mangaluru Smart City Limited for the approval of the works under the Smart City project.

The high court also instructed the secretary of Karnataka Legal Services Authority to submit a report, after visiting Pacchanady and Mandara area, confirming that drinking water is being supplied by the MCC to the residents of the area.