GUWAHATI, April 19 � The Division Bench of the Gauhati High Court comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Surajmal Garg and Justice Ranjan Gogoi after hearing the PIL No. 81/09 filed by Ketaki Bardalai and Dr Santwana Bordoloi today directed the Commissioner of Guwahati Municipal Corporation and Commissioner of Municipal Administration Department, Govt. of Assam to file their affidavit within April 29.
The PIL was filed for a direction to ensure strict implementation of the provisions of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (Collection, Removal and Disposal of Solid Wastes and Efficient Cleaning and Scavenging of Streets, Drains and Premises) Bye-Laws, 2000 by the authorities and also to provide adequate infrastructure and public lavatory etc. The court earlier admitted the PIL and issued notice on October 20 last year.
During the course of hearing of the case, the court expressed its displeasure for not taking adequate steps for cleaning the garbage and for the waterlogging problem of Guwahati city. In the order, the court recorded that �in a sensitive matter like the present, the Corporation is not ready and willing to come out with a strategic plan for making the township a clean and hygienic place for the residents. At many places any person moving around the township can conveniently find that waterlogging is a menace. The road conditions are bad. Garbage heaps can be found at a number of places. If in the capital of the State, this is the condition, then one can imagine the condition of the entire State.
Further, it was also observed that �it is unfortunate that the court is required to inform the authority what they are required to do.� The court further directed the State respondents to publish the petition in the newspapers so that the petition becomes known to all concerned and all persons who are adversely affected because of the inaction and non-action on the part of the Corporation can come to the court with a complaint of their personal problems and the Corporation apprised of the real problems faced by the citizens and accordingly directed the State Government to advertise the petition in two local newspapers, one in vernacular and the other in English.
The court also directed the Commissioner of GMC and Commissioner of Municipal Administration Department to file their affidavit in the matter on or before April 29 informing the court the action they propose to take in the matter and if the replies are not received on the date fixed, then the court shall direct personal appearance of the said authorities and may even draw proceeding against them. Further hearing of the case is fixed on April 29 next.
BD Das, Pallabh Bhowmick and Nabashish Goswami, Advocates appeared for the petitioners while S Bora, Advocate appeared for GMC before the court.
