India, July 25 -- The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to take strict action, including initiating criminal cases, against those dumping garbage and plastic waste on streets and in public places across the city.

"Careless approach on the part of the citizens, who unabatedly indulge in such activities, is undoubtedly causing serious damage to the environment apart from causing undue pressure on the municipal machinery. The only effective solution would be the strict implementation of the laws and imposition of stringent deterrent measures by the municipal corporation and the law enforcing machinery," the division bench of justices GS Kulkarni and Aarti Sathe said.

The court was hearing a...