Kerala - Kochi   

Greens train their guns on Paristhithi Bhavan

By K.S. Sudhi

KOCHI, MAY 30. Paristhithi Bhavan, the environment arm of the Kochi Corporation, has invited the wrath of environmentalists for its alleged failure to act.

Many environmentalists feel that it is the lack of vision and commitment on the part of civic authorities that has hampered the green initiative. Barring the planting of Kanikonna saplings and formation of a few core committees for drafting the environmental action plan for Kochi, the Bhavan has failed to take up its agenda in a big way, say environmentalists.

The environmentalists are also critical about the failure of the civic authorities in forming an environment division in the Town Planning Division of the Corporation as envisaged during the formation of the Bhavan. They also point to the delay in enacting the rules for giving legal authority to the decisions of the Bhavan as the major hurdle in the effective functioning of the body.

The plans for establishing environment and rain centres, environmental research unit and preparation of biodiversity register are gathering dust. The delay in finding a secretary for the Bhavan and obtaining Government approval for the post has also affected its functioning.

The noted environmentalist and guiding force behind the green initiative, M.K. Prasad, felt that the lack of commitment on the part of the Corporation councillors and others had affected the functioning of the Bhavan most.

"Many Corporation authorities view it as just another wing of the civic body. The failure of the civic authorities to allot sufficient funds for the Bhavan has also cast its shadow on its functioning," Prof. Prasad said.

Though the Corporation had earmarked Rs.10 lakhs for the Bhavan in its budget, a major chunk of the funds had been diverted to other departments, leaving only Rs.2 lakhs for the Bhavan, he pointed out. "All that the Bhavan did since its inception was purchasing an air-conditioner, a table and two chairs for its office. The Bhavan has failed to take note of the burning issues of the city like health, sanitation and mosquito menace," said the secretary of the Association For Environmental Protection, S. Sitaraman. He alleged that some vested interest groups in the Corporation were derailing the activities of the Bhavan.

"The air pollution in Kochi has reached alarming proportion with the presence of Suspended Particulate Matter in air reaching 130 ppm against the permissible level of 20 to 30 ppm", Prof. Sitaraman said. Considering the high level of air pollution due to the exhaust from diesel vehicles, it was high time the city turned towards less polluting fuels like LNG or CNG, he said.

Prof. Prasad said the Bhavan could not even place the status report of environment of Kochi for discussion. He suggested that a qualified and full-time secretary and support staff be allotted to the Bhavan.

The Bhavan was set up as part of the 10th Five Year Plan project of the Kochi Corporation. It was expected to guide the civic body on matters of environmental concern. It was under the Town Planning Committee that the Bhavan was constituted.

When contacted, the Town Planning Standing Committee chairman, K.D. Vincent, said that the Corporation was planning to hold a series of programmes in the city coinciding with the World Environment Day, which falls on June 5.The civic body will organise environment awareness programmes for school students by bringing together all the nature clubs and other Greens organisations in the city schools. Planting of saplings and administering environment protection oath for students are the other programmes planned by the Corporation, said Mr. Vincent.

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