Get BMRCL to clear dust: Citizens

Bengaluru: Members of Whitefield Rising met Mr Lakshman, Chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB), and submitted a complaint letter against Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) for failing to comply with the KSPCB order to use cleaning machines in the Mahadevapura Zone in Whitefield area.

After a spurt in cases of respiratory disorders, members of ward committees from ward numbers 54, 83, 84, 85 and 149, had started a campaign – Give Me Clean Air to Breathe.

Earlier, another letter with a list of complaints was submitted to the KSPCB on November 27, 2017, following which the BMRCL had ordered the BMRCL to use cleaning machines and to dispose of the debris in a designated area.

Deccan Chronicle learnt that despite repeated reminders to BMRCL Managing Director Mahendra Jain from December 2017 to March 2018, no steps were taken.

The citizens wanted the board to exercise its powers under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981. “In public interest, penal action should be taken against erring officials as identified and applicable under Chapter VI of the act. We also recommend a probe into the contracts and sub-contracts that are given and would like to know who is authoring payments to any of those contractors who are charged with keeping the area clean,” the letter to the KSPCB read.