The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) told the Karnataka High Court on Tuesday that it has released Rs 118.15 crore out of the total pending amount of Rs 150 crore to be paid to the garbage contractors and the civic workers. The BBMP counsel assured that the remaining Rs 32 crore will be released soon after contractors submit the bills for the work done.
The BBMP has come up with the statement after the High Court had slammed the Palike while hearing a batch of petitions on Solid Waste Management on February 13, 2015 for not releasing the due of Rs 150 crore to civic workers. The petitioners had alleged that delay in payment was affecting the solid waste management system in the city. Though BBMP Commissioner M Lakshminarayana had sought two months time to make arrangements to solve the garbage problem, the court had adjourned the matter for March 3rd, exclusively to know if the pending amount is released.
Hearing the matter on March 3rd, 2015, special division bench comprising Justice N Kumar and Justice B V Nagarathna directed the BBMP to ensure that the released amount reaches the civic workers and the balance payment of Rs 32 crore too is released soon. The court said that directions will be issued to book the contractors and civic workers if they do not take up the garbage work even after the release of amount by the BBMP.
Meanwhile, the bench also suggested that BBMP avoid burning of dry leaves by the road side and instead allow the interested organisations or firms to collect the leaves for producing organic manure for farms.
It can be recalled that Citizen Matters had written about the problem of burning leaves and garbage, and the health issues citizens could face because of it. The case will come up for further hearing on April 10, 2015.
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Does the HC have to step in every time for mundane operational matters?? Seems to me the HC and the judicial system is filled with clerks whose job it is to direct some government office or the other to “do the process laid down”. And suggesting leaves be composted! Amazing, it is like the IAS officers doing “computer” to prove themselves. No wonder we are backward and uncivilized country. Suggestion to the honorable HC – clear the backlogged cases immediately and stop wasting time on trivia. How many undertrials awaiting “trial”?? Working for the British wont get you citizenship in the UK, so better start working for those who pay you.