Take up land restoration, plant more trees: KSPCB Secy

Bengaluru, NT Bureau: In an interview with News Trail, HC Balachandra, IFS, Member Secretary, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board( KSPCB) highlighted the ‘World Environment Day- 2024’ theme- 'Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience' and the board’s initiatives for a greener future.

He spoke about addressing environmental challenges and encouraging eco-friendly practices to make progress towards a healthier and more resilient planet. Here are excerpts:

Has Environment Day each year become a mere ritual? Are green initiatives like tree plantation succeeding?

The World Environment Day program is for government and non-government organizations, youth, public and for all citizens.

It is not a mere celebration but has to become a practice to be followed throughout the year. If this is followed religiously, we can take care of Mother Earth well. We need to take up planting trees more extensively and increase the green cover.

Why is Karnataka so drought prone? What can be done to alleviate the situation?

Not only Karnataka, throughout the world we are experiencing climate change, droughts, temperature increase, rainfall patterns, depleting glaciers etc.

This is mainly due to urbanization, developmental projects (residential, commercial, public), industrialization etc which are all contributory factors to the depleting forest cover.

According to the 1988 National Forest Policy, we need to maintain 33 percent of the geographical area as forest cover but as of now, we have only 21 percent.

Further, due to urbanization, we are converting land into concrete buildings, concrete footpaths and roads, so there is no place for percolation of water.

In the name of development we have cut through so many hectares of forest and the absence of trees is causing land runoffs leading to water percolation issues. This is happening in India and is the reason for droughts.

Air pollution in Bengaluru, how serious is it?

The KSPCB is not a controlling authority, it is a regulatory body. We give directions under the Environment Protection Act 1986 to BWSSB, BBMP, SWM,ULBs, Corporations and Town Municipalities.

When air pollution is more, we ask local urban bodies to take action and control it. If they do not abide by it, the board takes appropriate action.

Is the water we drink in Bengaluru safe?

Firstly, because of the fall in the g round water table and secondly because of industrialisation and urbanization, the generation of sewage and effluents have increased.

We have to treat and reuse or treat and dispose of sewage waste safely. Therefore, sewage and effluents reach lakes thus polluting the water making it unsafe for drinking. We need to establish more Sewage Treatment Plants (STPs) in municipal urban local body limits.

Around 2400 MLD of fresh water is being used in Bengaluru, of which only 1800 MLD of sewage water is being treated. Each domestic household should be connected to proper sewage lines and STPs have to be set up accordingly.

How can the environmental themes be integrated into educational curriculum and youth engagement programs to foster long- term environmental protection?

Schools and colleges have subjects on Environmental Science (EVS) but they should focus on addressing current environmental issues making them the yearly themes. Through such initiatives, students should find solutions to overcome environmental problems.

What is the role of youth in driving environmental change?

Youth should be exposed to issues be it creation of awareness, involving them in saving a tree or planting a tree through the year.

How can we safeguard the health of the planet-Mother Earth?

We need to take up land restoration, and increase land under forest cover by planting more trees in open spaces, control deforestation, and take up pruning activities of trees regularly across the state as a safety measure. The BBMP has to look into this activity periodically.

KSPCB plans to celebrate ‘World Environment Day2024’ shortly, So what is the top focus of the event and visible initiatives?

As part of Vanamahotsav celebration , we plan to plant trees at the venue (Kanteerava Indoor Stadium), and hold an exhibition with 30 stalls.

A lot of NGOs will be taking part. We are addressing reuse of treated water, solid waste management, ewaste, e-vehicles, solar vehicles, and showcasing many more solution oriented activities.