K’taka HC asks govt to set up seperate redressal system for illegal quarrying

Bengaluru: After seeing a rise in the number of cases and PILs against illegal quarrying and stone crushing in the State, the Karnataka High Court has told the State government to set up a separate redressal system for the same.

The order was passed by a division bench headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka hearing a petition filed by an NGO against quarrying units around Tippagondanahalli and Manchanabele reservoirs near Bengaluru.

The court had, in a previous hearing of the petition, asked the petitioner to implead the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) as a respondent, observing that it is the government’s as well as the Board’s duty to act against illegal stone quarrying and stone crushing units in the State.

The Court in its direction said that the government should set up a redressal system where people can register complaints against illegal quarrying and stone crushing activities anywhere in the State.