Dharmasthala mass burial allegations: SIT likely to operate from Belthangady
Newly built police quarters to serve as SIT headquarters amid high-profile investigation
Belthangady: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Karnataka government to probe alleged criminal activities within the Dharmasthala police station limits is expected to operate from Belthangady itself, according to sources. Preparations are reportedly underway for the team’s operations.
The SIT will be housed in the newly constructed police residential quarters adjacent to the Belthangady police station. Though the building has not yet been officially inaugurated, it has been deemed suitable due to its ample space and close proximity to the police station, offering both convenience and security for investigation purposes. The SIT office is likely to commence operations today (July 25).
While an SIT office was earlier proposed in Mangaluru, the 75 km distance from Dharmasthala was considered a hindrance to the pace and efficiency of the investigation. This led to the decision to centralize the SIT’s functioning in Belthangady.
The Karnataka government had constituted the SIT on July 19 under the leadership of Director General of Police (Internal Security Division), Pranav Mohanty. Other key members include DIG (Recruitment Division) M.N. Anucheth, DCP (CAR Central) Soumya Latha, and SP (Internal Security Division) Jitendra Kumar Dayama.
State Police Chief Dr. M.A. Saleem has also issued orders to provide additional officers and support staff to assist the SIT in its investigation.
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Delhi among 17 states, UTs without e-waste recycling facility: CPCB to NGT
New Delhi (PTI): The Central Pollution Control Board has informed the National Green Tribunal that 17 states and Union Territories, including Delhi, do not have electronic or e-waste recycling facilities. The national capital also does not maintain records on the interstate transportation of e-waste
However, the CPCB noted that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) is among the seven state pollution bodies that have completed e-waste inventorisation covering all 106 categories of electrical and electronic Equipment (EEE) under the E-Waste (Management) Rules, 2022.
A bench of NGT Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A Senthil Vel was hearing the matter regarding e-waste management across states and UTs. The tribunal had earlier sought an action-taken report from the CPCB.
In its order dated February 12, the bench noted the CPCB had received responses from all states and Union Territories, except Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttarakhand. It noted that 17 states/UTs, including Delhi, lacked e-waste recycling facilities.
According to the report, Delhi primarily disposes of its e-waste through Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) or agreements between bulk waste generators and registered recyclers located outside the city, with most of such recyclers located in the national capital region (NCR).
The tribunal said that according to the report, 21 states/UTs, including Delhi, did not maintain records on the interstate transportation of e-waste.
"Seven state pollution control boards (SPCBs)/Pollution Control Committees (PCCs) have completed e-waste inventorisation covering all 106 categories of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (EEE) under the E-Waste (Management) Rules of 2022, and submitted it thereof to CPCB. These are Assam, Delhi, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland and Tripura," it said.
Maintaining an inventory of the EEE waste categories is critical for estimating the waste generated by each state/UT.
The tribunal noted the submissions of the CPCB's counsel that draft guidelines for nationwide e-waste inventorisation had been prepared and shared with all states/UTs and that the final guidelines will be issued after receiving the pending responses.
"In view of this, the CPCB is directed to file a further status report at least one week before the next date of hearing (on May 21),” the tribunal said.
