Mumbai: Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked how many corporators in Mumbai had worked to remove garbage and prevent pollution in their wards.“Those who are supposed to do this, they should be doing this. We don’t find any role of corporators,” said Justices Girish Kulkarni and Neela Gokhale.HC was hearing a petition by Kannamwar Nagar CHS regarding pollution from the Kanjurmarg dumping ground. On Oct 22, HC sought to know if the right of slum dwellers to re-accommodation can be forfeited if they do not cooperate in maintaining hygiene and in garbage disposal. Senior advocate Birendra Saraf, for SRA, said statutory provisions do not confer such a power upon SRA.The judges said BMC’s AI-operated cameras and mist sprinkler systems, if operationalised in slums, will make a difference.
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Senior advocate Anil Sakhare, for BMC, said at every point where there is garbage dumped, it will be installed. Saraf then said SRA can possibly also organise awareness camps.Justice Gokhale said, “Now, we can’t even ask famous people to come forward and run these campaigns.” Justice Kulkarni added, “You try to do something good for the public, a different colour is given. This is what we have experienced [in the firecrackers matter. Here also the court is concerned with the environment, cleanliness, hygiene etc.”Sakhare said corporators are requested to participate to raise community awareness. “Show us one corporator in Mumbai, maybe a new corporator or old corporator, who had terms and terms of corporation elections, that he has done something for his ward in respect of the slum areas and removal of garbage, cleanliness, and maintenance. Corporator in Kannamwar Nagar, how many times has he taken up the matter of pollution?” asked Justice Kulkarni. Justice Gokhale said HPC’s report shows the mayor had only distributed saplings and plants.The judges noted that despite BMC’s measures and the contractor’s installing 27 mist sprinklers, there was no improvement. Petitioner’s advocate Abhijeet Rane said residents are getting odour throughout the night. The judges will appoint three advocates as amici curiae (friends of the court) “to know what is lacking… so that things can be put in proper perspective.”
