Patna, Dec. 12: The high court today directed Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) to sensitise residents on maintaining cleanliness in the state capital.

A bench of Justice T. Meena Kumari and Justice Vikash Jain also directed the civic body to submit a report by the next date of hearing, January 10, 2012, on the removal of illegal khatals (cowsheds) from the city.

The court passed the direction while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL), filed by one Barun Kumar Sharma, and some analogous petitions seeking removal of illegal encroachments from busy roads to prevent traffic congestion.

The petition also sought removal of encroachments from parks and khatals, most of which are located on the roadside and disrupt vehicular movement.

The bench asked the PMC to spread awareness among the residents, right from children to the elderly, so that the city could be kept clean. The corporation can involve non-government organisations in its effort to sensitise the people, it added.

The bench further asked the corporation to consider setting up a separate wing in the civic body itself to keep tabs on the cleanliness drive being carried out.

During the hearing, the court observed that people — intellectuals and lawyers — should take initiative and set up community committees in their localities to take up issues related to civic amenities.

PMC counsel Vishwa Bibhuti Singh submitted a detailed progress report in the court on the removal of cowsheds from the city.

The corporation claimed to have removed encroachments, including illegal cowsheds from all the four circle areas of Patna, Singh submitted. He also added that the civic body has also taken steps to remove garbage from the state capital.

While appearing for one of the petitioners, counsel Sunil Kumar, who was not satisfied with the PMC’s claim, submitted that despite repeated court orders, illegal khatals continued to flourish in the state capital, making it virtually impossible for people to even walk on these roads during rush hours.

Sunil submitted that khatals have either not been removed completely or have reappeared at the same spots some time after their removal.

The counsel submitted before the court that responsibility should be fixed on respective station house officers of areas concerned for removal of the encroachments.

The corporation has written letters to the police stations, reminding them that no illegal cowshed should come at the places from where they are removed.