Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 22: The state government told the state high court on Thursday January 21 that it is prepared to appoint National Environment Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) to verify rule violation connected with construction and demolition waste management rules 2016 and to submit a report thereof. The institute will be asked to verify the violations wherever smart city works have been undertaken.

The assurance came when a division bench of the high court on Thursday took up a public interest litigation filed by Dakshina Kannada district legal services authority about the devastation left behind by the collapse of solid waste accumulated at Pachanady in the city.

Advocate general of the state, Prabhulinga K Navadagi, said that NEERI will also be asked to give suggestions about steps to be taken and assured that Mangaluru Smart City Ltd will be taking responsibility to implement the suggestions. The high court, which took note of these submissions, asked the Mangaluru Smart City Ltd to submit its request to NEERI and adjourned the hearing to January 28.

Advocates for the city corporation said that compensation is being disbursed to the people affected by the landslide of the accumulated waste. The bench asked them to consider the practicability of disbursing ad hoc relief instead of considering objections received seeking enhancement of compensation. It also directed the commissioner of Mangaluru city corporation to confirm whether construction and demolition waste management rules are being followed.

In the meantime, the urban development department has submitted a memo to the department of personnel and administrative reforms asking to appoint separate managing director for Mangaluru Smart City Ltd as currently the city corporation commissioner is discharging this additional responsibility.