Poor planning led to Vrushabhavati pollution

Speaking at a programme organised by the department of ecology and environment and Karnataka Pollution Board to give away the State environment awards and bio-diversity awards on the occasion World Environment Day he blamed the engineers of BBMP and BDA for bad planning

The Minister said the engineers come with a single point agenda to extort money. They never think why the cities in western countries are so clean as compared to Bangalore. “These engineers polluted Vrushabhavathi by simply letting the waste water directly into it. In no other country anyone would find such practice,” the Minister said.

He told the audience that the city would not turn clean and green without public participation and for that at least 80 to 90 per cent of participation is required.

Cricketer Anil Kumble said sparrows, which were part of our lives have vanished from the city. The last time he saw a sparrow was at Devanahalli two years ago but now people do not see them there too, said Kumble. He said people make a hue and cry when a tree is felled in the City whereas nobody knows how much damage man is inflicting in the forests in remote regions. He said there is need for political will to change the scene.
The BJP MP D B Chandre Gowda said many species have vanished from Malnad region because of the over-exploitation of the lush green belt.

He said when Nagasaki and Hiroshima can turn green almost 65 years after the atom bombs were dropped over them, why can’t India turn the cities green.

On the occasion, five people were given Karnataka State Environment Awards carrying Rs 1 lakh cash. They are D Mohan Ramakrishna Hegde, Gramanthara Samudaya Vijnana Kendra, B Eshwar Prasad, Out Reach organisation and B S Raghunatah from Chitradurga.
Those who got Bio-diversity Award were Bangalore University, Uttara Kannada Zilla Panchayath, G M Bhat, M K Kailasa Murthy, Karnataka Grameena Paramparikaa Vaidya Paris hath, C M Fazal, Janachethana Pattana Mattu Grameenabhivrudhdhi Samsthe.