JOIN USDr Vaman Acharya, a senior BJP leader who describes himself as a “garbage man”, was appointed chairperson of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on Thursday.
His appointment comes after the Karnataka High Court stayed the ad hoc appointment of IAS officer R Sridharan as the Board’s chief about a fortnight ago. The petitioner Srirame Gowda challenged Sridharan’s appointment on the ground that a serving government officer cannot be appointed the Board chairperson as per the existing rules. On Thursday, when the matter came up for hearing before the Division Bench, Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen directed the petitioner to file a fresh petition in view of the new appointment.
An MBBS graduate, Acharya discontinued his practice in the mid-80s to pursue his passion, which included setting up a compost manufacturing firm. Acharya owns Sunrise Compost near Machohalli on Magadi Road, which produces four to eight tonnes of organic manure every day using the BBMP garbage. His company’s only competitor in the City is Terra Firma.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Acharya said his priority as the new chairperson of KSPCB was “garbage management” not only in the City but also in the entire State. “I have been actively involved in the BBMP’s initiatives; segregation of garbage is very well said than done,” he said.
Middle-class residents may follow the segregation instructions, but it is difficult to educate the lower-middle class and shop owners garbage separation, he said. Initiatives have to be taken ward-wise and Assembly-wise to produce zero waste and organic manure.
Acharya said there was a need for newer technology for processing garbage.
On the implementation of a ban on plastics, he said an alternative must be worked out before stopping their usage totally. He said there was a need to upgrade sewage treatment plants to the tertiary level to save the City lakes.
Outgoing chairperson A S Sadashivaiah said he was happy with his stint at the KSPCB, although it was full of challenges and difficulties. He said he tried to make industries accountable for causing damage to the environment.
“Our efforts led to the closure of many polluting industrial units. I also made efforts to expose the hazardous industries to the latest technology so as to reduce damage to the environment. But, a lot more needs to be done,” said Sadashivaiah.
He denied that his decision to close down Mavallipura landfill was a wrong step. “It was after we issued the closure order that the BBMP began thinking about scientific ways of disposing of garbage.”