BENGALURU: The High Court on Monday directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to furnish details of criminal cases booked against health units for disposing of biomedical waste unscientifically in and around Sankeshwar in Belagavi district, and the number of cases where a conviction has taken place.
During the hearing of a public interest petition filed by Vittal Appannanavar of Mudagali in Gokak taluk, a division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy pulled up the KSPCB officials.
“There must be a sense of responsibility among officials. If so, there would have been disciplinary action against the erring officials. Therefore, KSPCB should provide the details of action taken against its own officials for not initiating criminal proceedings against the health units violating rules in disposing of biomedical waste and resulting in pollution of Hiranyakeshi river,” the bench said.
The bench issued a notice to M/s Belgaum Green Environment Management, one of the respondents, and also told the officials concerned to submit a report on 16 foetuses found near Sankeshwar.
The petitioner alleged that KSPCB has failed to implement the waste management rules and laws related to biomedical waste in the district.