Karnataka will soon have Green Police to check pollution in the State. Revealing this to media, the Minister for Ecology and Environment Krishna Palemar said there are about 40,000 industries and about 10,000 hospitals across the State and many of them are responsible for polluting environment.
Already 46 industries, mostly dyeing industries, have been closed in Bangalore alone for polluting water through their affluents.
Along with it the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has taken some initiatives, but these measures have not yielded the desired results. Now, the government intends to have Green Police across the State, which will report the matter to the higher-ups and act in tandem with the local authorities against the units causing pollution, said Palemar.
The Minister said there will be at least two Green Police officers in each district whereas in Bangalore the number will be much more in view of its Metro status. However, these Men in Green will be different from the Men in Khaki, clarified Palemar adding, the idea of green police brigade in the state is at its infancy but in the next fortnight something concrete on this issue would come out.
Along with it the KSPCB will set up help centres or the control room where it will receive complaints from the general masses regarding pollution in their area. There will also be a reward scheme for the ‘informers’ from the public for giving vital information about pollution, the Minister said adding that the department of environment and the KSPCB will keep the identity of the informer secret.
