Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Oct 29: As poisonous content was found in the effluents flowing down the solid waste landfill unit at Pachanady into River Phalguni, the high court (HC) has ordered that the water should be tested by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc).

A division bench of the high court comprising Chief Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi, and Justice Sachin Shankar which heard the public interest litigation filed by Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, passed this order on Thursday October 28.

The order said that a team comprising the scientists of the said institute formed by the director, should visit the spot within 15 days. The team has to test the water samples from various points including inflow, outflow and other phases and file a report in a closed envelope to the high court within four weeks. The Mangaluru city corporation commissioner was instructed to bring this high court order to the notice of the IISc director and the corporation and pollution control board have to extend full cooperation to the team.

Advocate for the city corporation, Dhyan Chinnappa, stated that the government has sanctioned Rs 72 crore for the disposal of waste accumulated at the landfill unit for the last many years. He said that tender has been called, and as this is a huge process, it might take three years to complete, duly adding that after shifting, the waste it will be scientifically segregated.

Advocate for the petitioners, Sridhar Prabhu, presented arguments.