BENGALURU: The High Court on Tuesday pulled up the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) for gross violation of its own order passed 18 months ago to close an industry, Nagashri Home Products on Lakkavanahalli Road in Hiriyur town of Chitradurga district, for causing air pollution.
Hearing a public interest petition filed against the industry, a division bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy observed, “It (KSPCB) has become Pollution Board. We have to ensure that it is Pollution Control Board.”
In the PIL, H B Manachar and others, who are local residents, alleged that tyres too are being used as fuel for fire to prepare condiments by Nagashri Home Products and the effluents are being discharged in to a drain. It is causing severe pollution in the locality and hence necessary directions should be given to prevent the pollution, they appealed to the high court.
Meanwhile, in the order passed on August 31, 2013, following the directions of the court, the KSPCB had agreed to ask Bescom to stop power supply and City Municipality Council to not to renew the licence. However, KSPCB failed to execute this order.
This apart, the advocates representing Bescom and KSPCB told the court that the power supply was stopped 20 days back. However, as per the statement filed by Hiriyur police after inspecting the spot on Monday, no such action was taken by Bescom. The matter is posted to further hearing on March 18.
Proceedings Quashed
The High Court on Tuesday quashed the criminal proceedings against actor Poonam Pandey at the magistrate court. Advocate S Umesh had filed a private complaint in April 2012 against Pandey under Section 295A of IPC on the charges of deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings.
This was challenged by Pandey in the High Court on the ground that prior permission from the State government was not taken before filing the complaint, as required.
HC Seeks Info on Skywalk’s Location
The High Court on Tuesday asked the BBMP and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to give details about the exact location identified for the proposed skywalk near Esteem Mall.
The court has stayed the notice issued by the NHAI on March 3, seeking possession of a part of land belonging to Esteem Mall within three days.
Hearing a petition filed by Esteem Mall, challenging the acquisition of land belonging to it, Justice B V Nagarathna observed that the unfortunate deaths of two persons catalysed the agencies to take up the skywalk. The judge refused to give more time to BBMP and NHAI to file a reply saying that two lives have already been lost. But, the agencies should clarify where they will construct the skywalk, the judge said. The matter was listed for further hearing on Friday.
The BBMP on Saturday demolished a part of the Mall to make way for the skywalk. Esteem Mall, represented by its partner Narayandas Bodaram, approached High Court against the demolition.
