The High Court on Saturday directed the Transport department to file an affidavit on steps taken to prevent pollution by Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses.
During the hearing of a petition pertaining to noise pollution, the division bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice H G Ramesh pointed out that indiscriminate halting of buses and plying poorly maintained buses cause air pollution and noise pollution. Amicus curiae Vidyullatha raised the point on how buses stop outside bus shelters. The bench said, “The buses stop in the middle of the road, other vehicles just stop behind them, this accumulates air pollution,” the Chief Justice said.
When a Transport department official said that he will request the Commissioner, BMTC to take steps in this regard, the bench said, “Request will not help. Direct them that you will seize such buses. Can you do this?” The bench said poorly maintained buses cause noise pollution and questioned what action will be taken against such buses. “They must not be allowed to ply on roads. Can you ensure that?” Chief Justice Waghela asked Transport officials.
Deaths in quarries
The High Court, which has initiated a suo motu petition to prevent death due to drowning in abandoned quarry pits, on Saturday issued notices to the State and central governments.
The petition comes after the death of five girls in Dakshina Kannada district in July, by drowning in quarry pits. It says that deep quarry pits, most often filled with water, are neither manned nor secured at the perimeter, posing a grave hazard to human lives.
Senior counsel Sajjan Poovayya, who is appointed as the amicus curiae in the matter, said that serious action needs to be taken to protect lives. He sought directions to the government to provide perimeter security at all quarries in the State, besides inspecting them periodically.
The government counsel submitted that the State has recently amended the laws, whereby lease holders are called upon to submit closure plans. The petitioner contended that after the amendment, no concrete action has been taken.The court has ordered notices to the State government, Department of Commerce and Industry, Department of Mines and Geology and Directorate General of Mines Safety, Southern Zone.
