Kerala's waste continues to threaten Karnataka environment, six trucks carrying waste seized
Bengaluru: Despite repeated alerts over the past five years, trucks from Kerala continue to illegally carry tonnes of solid waste, including toxic materials, into Karnataka, posing a serious environmental threat. This ongoing issue has prompted the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to formally write to its counterpart in the neighbouring state.
On Monday, six trucks carrying tonnes of plastic and other non-biodegradable materials from Kerala were seized near the Mulehole check post in Gundlupet, as reported by Deccan Herald.
A complaint by KSPCB’s regional environment officer, Umashankar P.K., led to the registration of an FIR against seven individuals, including the drivers of the six trucks. The seizure came after the Gundlupet police found the vehicles transporting waste without proper documents and permits.
KSPCB member secretary H.C. Balachandra stressed the seriousness of the issue and raised the matter with the Pollution Control Board (PCB) in Kerala. He noted the dumping of solid waste in the border areas is illegal. He added that despite writing to the local authorities as well as the Kerala PCB, they are seeing violations.
The Board had earlier written to the deputy commissioners in Mysuru and Chamarajanagar which share the border with Kerala’s Wayanad region. Activist Sadanand H. Math told DH that trucks enter from Wayanad without any checks. He mentioned that there is a need for joint patrolling at key checkposts, such as Mulehole (Chamarajanagar) and Bavali (Mysuru district). He also called for more officers on the Karnataka side to monitor and check the menace of garbage-carrying trucks.
Math noted that waste dumping not only pollutes the environment, but poses a threat to wildlife in the protected areas of Bandipur-Nagarahole and BRT tiger reserves.
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Lakhimpur Kheri violence case: SC expresses disappointment over non-production of witnesses in trial
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Friday expressed disappointment over the non-production of witnesses in the ongoing trial against Ashish Mishra, son of former Union minister Ajay Mishra, and others in the 2021 Lakhimpur Kheri violence case.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the status report filed before it by the Uttar Pradesh government has not assigned any reason whatsoever for the non-production of witnesses.
It noted that no witnesses have been examined in the trial for the last two months.
"We direct the presiding judge to take lawful measures to secure the presence of witnesses," the bench said.
It asked the trial judge to make an endeavour to conclude the trial in a time-bound manner, and also to file a status report before it.
The trials in two cases related to the incident are going on before a court in Uttar Pradesh.
The bench noted that in the first case, out of 131 witnesses to be examined, 44 have been examined, 15 have been discharged and 72 are still to be produced.
In the second FIR, out of 35 witnesses, 26 have been examined and nine were left, it said.
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for Ashish Mishra, said that as per the latest status report filed by Uttar Pradesh, 44 witnesses have been examined so far in the first FIR.
"No witnesses have been examined in the last two months," Dave said.
He argued that the last status report filed by the state in March also said that 44 witnesses had been examined.
"What have you done from March till today?" the bench asked the counsel appearing for Uttar Pradesh.
The state's counsel said that 3-4 witnesses were summoned for the recording of their deposition during the trial.
The bench said at least 7-8 witnesses should be summoned instead of three or four for a day, so that even if some of them do not turn up, the trial court could proceed with the recording of statements of those appearing before it.
The top court also wondered how official witnesses can remain absent during the trial.
"We are disappointed to note that the so-called status report does not assign any reason whatsoever for non-production of witnesses...," the bench said.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the relatives of the farmers who were allegedly mowed down in the incident, said the apex court will have to do something regarding the manner in which the trial was going on.
The bench noted that besides the two FIRs, another FIR was registered in October last year concerning alleged witness intimidation.
It said that, as per the state's status report, the chargesheet was filed against the main accused in that case.
The bench noted that the status report reveals that, as far as Ashish Mishra is concerned, his alleged role in the third case is still being investigated.
The top court directed the investigating officer of the third case to conclude the pending probe and ensure that the appropriate report is filed before the concerned court within four weeks.
The bench posted the next hearing in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case for July.
On October 3, 2021, eight people, including four farmers, were killed in Tikunia in Lakhimpur Kheri district during a protest by farmers against Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit to the area.
Four farmers were mowed down by a sports utility vehicle. A driver and two BJP workers were then allegedly lynched by angry farmers. A journalist also died in the violence.
In one of the cases, the trial court in December 2023 framed charges against Mishra and 12 others for alleged murder, criminal conspiracy and under other penal laws in the case of the farmers' deaths, paving the way for the trial.
