New Delhi, Jan 14: Exasperated by the long delay in setting up of Urban Sanitation Mission (USM) to clean up major cities, the supreme court today gave four weeks time to the Union government to give its response in this regard.
A bench comprising Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice H K Sema also sought response of the Centre on another suggestion by petitioner Almitra H Patel for a comprehensive plan for municipal solid waste management and marketing of urban compost as an alternative for fertilisers.
The bench suggested that as the matter involved several serious issues pertaining to the cleanliness and health of millions of urban dwellers, either the attorney general or the solicitor general should be present during the next hearing to assist the court in the matter.
Counsel Sanjiv Sen appearing for the petitioner submitted that almost three years ago a suggestion was made that the central finance commission would fulfil its obligations under Article 280(3)(C) of the constitution to augment the resources of municipalities.
Bureau Report