HC wants public to take responsibility of waste disposal

Urging people to share the responsibility of proper waste management and disposal, the Bombay High Court today suggested that authorities should make it mandatory for residential societies and townships to have a small waste disposal unit.
A division bench of justices N H Patil and V L Achliya was hearing a PIL filed by K D Gokhale and others in 2009 regarding plans for a waste treatment plant to be set up by the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) lying in limbo since 15 years for want of sanction from the state government and pollution control board.
On April 13, the high court had directed KDMC not to grant permission for any new construction until the issue is not cleared.

Aggrieved by this, several builders today approached the court seeking recall of the stay order.
"At this stage we do not find it necessary to recall our order. We, however, clarify that constructions which have already started, projects in which sanction has been given by KDMC, projects which have received commencement certificate and redevelopment projects can continue," the bench said.
The court opined that individuals and societies at large should take the responsibility of waste management and disposal. "We cannot always shirk away basic responsibilities and then blame the government and corporation. The tendency of throwing garbage on the road needs to be curbed," Justice Patil said.

"Make it mandatory for every society to dispose of waste in their own premises instead of throwing it out on the road. All the new townships coming up offer so many luxuries. Make it compulsory for them to set up a small waste disposal unit inside the township. This will minimise the burden of local civic bodies," the court said.
It directed chief secretary of the state to convene a meeting with commissioners of all municipal corporations, chief officers of municipal councils and principal secretaries of state Urban Development and Environment departments to address the issue.
The court will hear the matter on June 24.