Ten-point conservation programme planned

BANGALORE June 5. Awards and recognition to persons and institutions helping save the environment, and release of reports, books, and a 10-point programme for conservation to be implemented in 2002-2003 were the highlights of the official function to mark World Environment Day on Wednesday.

With the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, choosing to be at the launch of the World Bank-aided Jala Samvardhane Yojana Sangha, the programme, which is usually attended by him, had the Minister for Environment and Forests, K.H. Ranganath, administering the Green Oath to students and the public, reiterating that everyone would try to follow the recycle and re-use principle.

Upendra Tripathy, Chairman, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, listed the 10-point programme, which includes plans to set up an Environmental Management Planning and Research Institute, ISO 14000 certification for large "red category" industries, eco-flags and eco-clubs for environmental awareness, eco-adalats at the district level, finalisation of treatment and disposal of hazardous waste, and setting up three common effluent treatment plants.

Apart from this, drawing up citizens' charters and a directory of pollution load in Karnataka, bringing out a purchase policy on eco-friendly goods in the State, promoting the idea of eco-labelling of products with Ecomark, and producing an in-house journal and environmental status report, and disclosure scheme are also on the cards, not to mention a fair, Technology.org, at the Palace Grounds during the year. The Parisara Shree and Parisara Prashasthi awards were given away to green achievers during the year 2001-2002 by the Minister for Health, A.B. Maalakaraddy. The Parishara Shree award winners are M. Abdul Rehman Pasha, who conducts talks, presentations and other environmental awareness programmes, Gopal Moogyarappa, who is doing research on the uses of coconut shell and waste, and Anantha Hegde Ashinara, who has been waging a struggle to save the Western Ghats.

Mr. Ranganath presented the Parisara Prashasthi awards to Nagathihalli Ramesh, who is publishing a periodical devoted to the environment, the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation, which has initiated rainwater harvesting projects at the Subhasnagar Bus Stand and is promoting the use of recycled paper and carrying out afforestation programmes at its campus and depots, the Belgaum- based Mahila Kalyana Samiti, which is trying to motivate rural women, communities and self-help groups to factor environmental protection into their lifestyle, and the Tumkur-based Bharat Agro-Industries Federation (BAIF), whose work in greening Tumkur District has been appreciated in many quarters.

Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Indian Overseas Bank, State Bank of Mysore, Corporation Bank, and Vijaya Bank, which undertook to sell eco-flags, presented the cheques to Mr. Ranganath. About 90 per cent of the amount collected — there is a target of Rs. 50 lakh — would be used by the KSPCB for various programmes, and 10 per cent would go to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

Prizes were given away to winners of quiz competitions at the school and college levels. I.M. Sanadi, Dharwad MP, who is a member of the Parliament Committee on Forests and Environment, released a report of the KSPCB on "Plastics industry in Karnataka''. Mr. Ranganath and Dr. Maalakaraddy released several books and reports, including a report on the water quality in the lakes and tanks of Bangalore and Mysore, the KSPCB's Annual Report, a Handbook on Coastal Ecosystems of Karnataka, and the Integrated Environmental Study for Bangalore, which is published by Tata Energy Research Institute. The Chief Secretary, A. Ravindra, said it was now known that water and air were no longer free from pollution, and it was up to the citizens to try and use resources such as water and polluting substances sparingly, using time-tested methods such as rainwater harvesting, recycling, and reusing water.