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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SC refuses urgent hearing of plea challenging MCD notification on picking of stray dogs
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday refused urgent listing of a plea challenging a notification issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi with regard to picking up of stray dogs.
A bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi declined to accord urgent hearing after a lawyer mentioned that an application has been filed in this regard.
The application submitted that MCD issued the notification despite orders having been reserved by the apex court.
The whole problem of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR is because of "inaction" of local authorities, the top court had said on August 14 while reserving its order on the interim prayer seeking a stay on the August 11 directions passed by the apex court.
A three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria had reserved its order in the matter.
A two-judge bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan had on August 11 directed authorities in Delhi-NCR to start picking up stray dogs from all localities "at the earliest" and relocate the animals to dog shelters.
The bench had directed the authorities to immediately create dog shelters and report to it about the creation of such infrastructure within eight weeks.
It had said stray dogs would be detained in shelters and not be released on streets, colonies or public places.
The apex court had passed a slew of directions on August 11 while hearing a suo motu case initiated on July 28 over stray dog bites leading to rabies, particularly among children, in the national capital.
