BANGALORE: The High Court of Karnataka on Tuesday directed the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) to depute an official within four weeks to study the effects of mechanised removal of sand from the Cauvery in Toranur village in Somwarpet taluk of Kodagu district.

A Division Bench, comprising the Chief Justice, Nauvdip Kumar Sodhi, and Justice B.S. Patil, directed the official to submit his report. The Bench passed the order on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by residents of Toranur village.

The petitioners challenged the permission given by the Department of Mines and Geology to a contractor to mine sand by using mechanised equipment. They said the contractor, Shivanna, had bagged the rights to mine sand from the river on the condition that he would not use mechanised equipment.

The department later permitted the contractor to use mechanised equipment.

When the matter came up, the petitioners alleged that the river was polluted because of mechanised extraction. Besides, the mechanised equipment were causing oil spill. They sought a direction from the court against mechanised sand mining.

The Bench said it was necessary to have a report from an expert on the issue and directed the KSPCB to depute an official. It adjourned further hearing of the case to July 24.

Disposed of

The same bench disposed of a public interest litigation petition seeking expeditious appointment of public prosecutors to fast track courts in the State.

The petitioner, K.N. Subba Reddy, an advocate, said fast track courts were set up for expeditiously settling cases. There were 89 such courts of which 44 did not have public prosecutors. The Bench disposed of the petition after the Government filed a statement that it would expeditiously fill the posts.