CPCB to take over the responsibility from IISc to conduct water quality test due to high charges.
The High Court (HC) of Karnataka has directed Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to conduct water quality test in various areas of Mangalore.
The Division Bench consisting of Chief Justice of Karnataka, Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi and Justice Sachin Shankar Magadum heard the PIL today. The advocate for respondents submitted that the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore has demanded a sum of Rs. 20 lakh for conducting water quality test. The HC had earlier said that IISc should conduct the test at various levels, including the entry and exit point, to find out the amount of water being supplied to people.
The bench said that Rs. 20 lakh was a very huge amount and there is no reasonable basis given by the IISc for the need of such huge amount. The amount of Rs. 20 lakh was divided as — Rs. 3,50,000 for overhead charges, Rs. 3,20,000 for collecting samples of the water, and Rs. 10,00,000 for conducting the test.
The HC had ordered IISc to conduct the test after two contradictory reports were submitted by Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) and Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).
The HC had asked the MCC to finalise the tender and it was submitted by the respondents advocate that the tender process has started. The bench said that the financial weight of the tender has to be evaluated for entering into a contract.
The bench has urgently directed the MCC to finalise the tender within four weeks and to enter the contract within two weeks. It has also directed the CPCB to submit the report before the next hearing on January 18, 2022.
