JOIN USTaking a dig at the KSPCB, Ashwani Kumar, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests, said that the board has not been taking defaulters to task.
Speaking to mediapersons at the Isro Satellite Integration and Testing Establishment (ISITE) at Marathahalli on Friday, Kumar said that there are over 200 cases of environmental violations but there has not been a conviction even in one case. The KSPCB has to work in a better manner and act against defaulters. I am disappointed. Enforcement has to be better and I expect a report from the KSPCB on its work and enforcement of rules,” he said.
Kumar has sought an action plan report from the State outlining various measures that will be taken to better ambient air, water quality and reduce noise pollution in the City. The drinking water situation is a major concern. “Bengaluru is the window to the world. We need to address environmental challenges here before things get out of hand. The chief minister is also on board with me. The problems should be worked out on a war footing,” he said.
The chairman had discussions with civic groups and NGO’s on the environmental issues such as preservation of lakes, reducing noise pollution, improving air quality, bettering bio-medical waste management and sewerage pollution. Civil Society members suggested improvement in the sanitary and biomedical waste collection system, improvement of buffer zones around medical solid waste processing facilities and the landfill sites, air and noise pollution.
The chairman also sought an action plan from the NGOs and civic groups on environmental issues haunting the City.