Traffic cops reject KSPCB’s plan for info board

The traffic police have rejected the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board’s proposal to install a board at Anil Kumble Circle, M G Road that gives information about weather and pollution.

KSPCB had drawn up a plan to install an information board displaying details of air, water and noise pollution of all automated centres of Karnataka at a cost Rs 3 crore. The board was also said to have columns disseminating awareness messages like eco-friendly Ganesha idols and hazards of bursting crackers during Diwali.

“We had written to the traffic police commissioner in July seeking permission. But they declined it stating that it will distract motorists and that will be an eyesore. Hence, we decided to install the first one at the head office. Whether the board should face Church Street or MG Road is still being debated. The idea is to get maximum viewers,” KSPCB chairman Lakshman told DH.

With restrictions on flexes and banners, KSPCB is also seeking the opinion of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to ensure that there are no problems.

The information board has been developed based on Canadian-technology. It is said to collect information from all automated centres from Karnataka on an hourly basis and display it at one location. At present, there are different boards for different kinds of information. There are seven automated centres in Bengaluru displaying air pollution and two automated centres showing noise pollution.

With the proposal for the automated information display board failing to take off, KSPCB has shelved the idea of installing 10 similar ones across the city for now. “We had planned 11 across the city. But now, we will go slow with the plan, as each board is expensive,” Lakshman said.