BENGALURU: “All we need is good health and a healthy environment... the stench of garbage has made our lives miserable; lakes are polluted, around 12 people died of illness from October to December. So give directions to the state government to shift the entire village to a better place ...”
This was the appeal of two residents of Mavallipura, a village that is facing the brunt of garbage dumped by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike, to the High Court.
On Friday, the duo narrated to a division bench of Justice N Kumar and Justice B V Nagarathna the apathy of officials. The bench was hearing a batch of public interest petitions relating to solid waste management.
Srinivas, a resident, told the court that 12 people have died in the village due to ailments caused by the garbage stink. The people are finding it difficult to live in the village. If that is the case of Mavallipura, “we can’t imagine the fate of people living near Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Mandur and Bingipura, where trash was dumped,” he said.
Another villager, Ramesh, told the court that the recent rains have made their lives miserable. “We can’t tolerate the stench ... the lakes too are polluted. Therefore, issue directions to the state government to rehabilitate us by shifting the village to a better place,” he appealed.
He told the court that a 34-year-old man developed a fever owing to the mosquito menace four months back. Within a day, he died on his way to a hospital. When villagers informed the BBMP, it announced a compensation of `50,000. But it is still on paper. Livestock is also perishing due to polluted drinking water. The BBMP had also promised mosquito nets to the villagers. That promise too has not been kept.
“We need good health and atmosphere. So use the `6 crore earmarked for the waste management plant for our well-being,” he appealed to the court.
Kapil Mohan Case Hearing Adjourned
The High Court on Friday adjourned to December 16 the hearing of the interlocutory application (IA) filed by senior IAS officer Kapil Mohan and his wife Richa Saxena.
The couple have sought a stay on the investigation into the disproportionate assets case registered against them by the Lokayukta police. Initially, their counsel pressed for an immediate stay, saying Mohan had been summoned by the officials on the pretext of investigation, but made to sit in the office without being asked any questions throughout the day.
However, Special Public Prosecutor Venkatesh P Dalwai vehemently opposed giving a stay and appealed to the court to reject the IA.
The officials are not in hurry to file a chargesheet at this stage as they are busy with pending cases. Therefore, there is no need to give importance to apprehension that investigating officials will take coercive action against Mohan and his wife, he argued.
“The court has already asked Lokayukta police not to take any coercive action against the couple in an interim order,” he argued.