While hearing a Public Interest Litigation concerning the growing menace around illegal flexes in the City, the Karnataka High Court (“Court”) has ordered the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (“BBMP”) to pull down illegal flexes, banners and hoardings by August 1, 2018. Pursuant to this order, the BBMP has taken done 5,000 illegal flexes from certain parts of Bengaluru. The Court’s firm stand on this matter has also reportedly resulted in the BBMP chief taking a decision to file criminal cases against the offenders who put up new illegal flexes, boards or banners from Thursday, i.e. August 2, 2018.
Background
Taking note of the huge amount of plastic generated in Bengaluru resulting in great environmental damage and health hazard, the Forest, Ecology and Environment Secretariat, Government of Karnataka had issued a notification in March, banning illegal flexes, banners and hoardings among other plastic items. Subsequently, the BBMP had issued a circular in May 2016, under the notification, specifying the following penalties for the same:
The Court had upheld the validity on the notification issued by the State Government and had reiterated that flexes fall under the ambit of plastic ban as mentioned in the said Government notification.
The High Court has now strictly set a deadline of a week for BBMP to complete the process across the city. The matter has been adjourned to August 8, 2018 for further hearing.
Source: Karnataka Government
