The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Children grill pollution board functionary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 08, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Children grill pollution board functionary

Staff Reporter

‘Investigation Brigade’ invited for workshop
Students bring up issue of private interest
in lakes

BANGALORE: Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) Member Secretary B. Venkatesh had some inquisitive visitors in his chamber on Monday.

The Children’s Movement for Civic Awareness (CMCA) arranged for children representatives, accompanied by teachers, to come to the KSPCB as part of its campaign “Investigation Brigade”.

This is a capacity building workshop on water in Bangalore City in which children play a direct role in obtaining information on the water scenario in the city from the authorities concerned.

They visited Mr. Venkatesh to know about the pollution of water in the city and its surroundings.

Mr. Venkatesh explained how the KSPCB monitored the level of pollution carefully during festivals; however because of the rush during Ganesh festival and Durga puja the results would take a few more days.

The board had published pamphlets during the Ganesh festival and is now issuing information about the harmful aspects of bursting crackers during Deepavali, which is being disseminated through non governmental organisations and schools.

KSPCB is conducting magic shows for schoolchildren till November 7 to wean them away from crackers.

The students were keen to know how the lakes in the city are managed, to which Mr. Venkatesh said the board met with the Lake Development Authority once in three months to discuss these issues.

Concern over lakes

An important issue brought up by the students was private interest in lakes. The so-called development of Lake Hebbal, undertaken by Oberoi Hotels, was raised, as was Lake Nagawara.

Mr. Venkatesh expressed concern over such ventures. The KSPCB planned to frame norms to check commercialisation of these lakes. He said restaurants and commercial centres would be told to build sewage treatment plants.

The students discussed how storm water drains across the city had lost their identity to become sewage drains.

Although the jurisdiction of various lakes across the city had been distributed among the BDA, BBMP and the Forest Department, any issue regarding pollution always came under the KSPCB.

The CMCA workshop is part of its annual survey. This year’s survey was on water literacy and the level of access, quality and consumption of water in Bangalore.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka