Chief Minister Siddaramiah, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, and Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre at World Environment Day celebrations, at Palace grounds in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

An order has been issued empowering the District Commissioners (DC) of each district in the State to chair a committee which will oversee the management and scientific disposal of plastic water bottles.

The Government Order was officially unveiled at the World Environment Day programme on Tuesday by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Each committee, headed by the DC, comprises the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Panchayat, District Superintendent of Police, Deputy Director of the Food and Civil Supplies Department, and Pollution Control Board officers.

These committees will monitor waste management by giving special attention to the scientific disposal of water bottles and compile data on the quantity of PET bottles produced, used and sold within the district.

These committees, which will meet and review once in three months, will also work to create awareness among the people about the ill effects of plastic waste.

On March 21, Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre had instructed the Additional Chief Secretary to issue an order to scientifically dispose of plastic bottles under Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) by mineral water manufacturing companies.

In a separate order, which was also released on the occasion, instructions have been given to remove concrete within a one-meter radius around trees planted by local bodies along roadsides.

As per the NGT order, there should be a one-meter circumference of soil around the trees.

The Chief Minister said that it is very important to make environmental conservation a curriculum in higher education and said that the government will take steps towards implementing this soon. “If we destroy nature out of greed, it is like destroying ourselves. In Karnataka, we must protect the Western Ghats, diverse forests, rivers, and biodiversity. If we protect the environment, it will protect us,” he said.

Country’s first electric safari bus at BNP

Mr. Khandre will flag off the trial run of the country’s first electric safari bus at the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) on June 18.

Currently, diesel vehicles are used for wildlife safaris. In order to reduce carbon emissions from diesel vehicles, an electric vehicle is being introduced for the first time in the country on a trial run.

Mr. Khandre will flag off the trial run of a 22-seater 100 kV battery-powered safari bus at BNP.

BBMP to provide funds to Forest Dept if it develops parks on its lands: DKS

The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will provide funds to the Forest Department if it comes forward to develop forest land in Bengaluru on the lines of Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, said Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Tuesday.

Speaking at the World Environment Day organised at the Palace Grounds, he said, “If the Forest Department develops its land parcels as parks on the lines of Cubbon Park and Lalbagh, it would benefit the public and it will also save forest lands from encroachment.”