Mangalore and Bhadravati are 'critically polluted' cities of Karnataka'

[email protected] (CD Network)
December 21, 2012

polluted

Manipal, December 21: The consequence of endosulfan spray on cashew gardens in coastal district Karnataka is no less than that of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984, said Dr Vaman Acharya, Chairman of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

Speaking after inaugurating a three-day international conference on “Environment and occupation health” organised by Manipal University, the National Institute of Occupational Health (NIOH), Ahmedabad, and the Regional Occupational Health Centre (ROHC), here on Thursday he said that the KSPCB had named Mangalore and Bhadravati as “critically polluted” cities in the State.

Dr. Acharya said the pollution might be because of the presence of some industries in these cities. A conclusive study needed to be done to link the pollution to such industries. Discharge of effluents from some industries in places such as Harihar and Dandeli to the nearby rivers had affected marine life in them.

There were 45 lakh vehicles in Bangalore alone. This meant that one in two persons in Bangalore owned a vehicle. These vehicles gave out toxic fumes, which affected the environment. The change in environment was having an impact on the health of the people.

But when compared with the Western countries, the pollution in India was far less. “We should not go the way of these advanced countries in generating pollution. We should strive to make the world a better and environmentally friendly place to live in,” he said.

When the industrial revolution began in England in 18th Century, pollution problems began with it. The Green Revolution in India, which was once praised, had brought pollution-related problems with it. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy in 1984 was one of the worst industrial disasters in the world. Thousands of people had died and nearly five lakh people were affected by the tragedy.

This had led to the passing of Environment Protection Act in the country.

The aerial spraying of the insecticide over cashew plantations in Dakshina Kannada district had created a massive health problem. The indiscriminate mining activities in Bellary district and neighbouring areas had wiped out dense forest areas in Bellary, Sandur, Tumkur, and Chitradurga.

In Udupi district, there were allegations of pollution against the 1,200 MW coal-based thermal power plant of Udupi Power Corporation Ltd (UPCL). These allegations were related to disposal of fly ash and felling of trees to lay power transmission lines from Udupi to Shantigrama in Hassan district, Mr. Acharya said.

H. Vinod Bhat, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Manipal University, P.K. Nag, Director of NIOH, Ahmedabad, H.R. Rajmohan, officer incharge of ROHC, Bangalore; Nalini Sukumar, Professor at University of Alabama, Birmingham, U.S.; and Ramachandra Kamath, Head of the Department of Public Health, Manipal University, were present.

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News Network
June 11,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 11: Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Thursday allowed the Opposition Congress party's newly elected state president DK Shivakumar to have a formal swearing-in function.

He told media, “I have spoken to Shivakumar and informed him to conduct the event after taking precautionary measures against the spread of the COVID-19 disease”.

The move came after the state government received flak from the main Opposition Congress leaders, for refusing to permit the newly elected State Congress president to have a formal swearing-in function take reigns from his predecessor Dinesh Gundu Rao.

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coastaldigest.com web desk
July 24,2020

Indore, Jul 24: A woman who sells fruits on a cart and who lashed out at municipal officials here has done PhD in Materials Science. Her siblings too are well educated and sell fruits as they did not find jobs.

Dr Raisa Ansari, who lives at Bakery Street in Pardeshipura with her family said she wanted to be a scientist but did not get a job anywhere.

Speaking to media persons, Raisa said, "I have done PhD in Materials Science and wanted to be a scientist but did not get job anywhere. I sell fruit here but the municipal officials are bothering us. We are being forced to move from here to there like cattle. Our religion may be the reason why we are not getting jobs but we are proud to be Indian. I am still looking for a job."

Dr Raisa's mother Ayesha Ansari said she herself is not educated, but has four children of whom three girls and one boy studied a lot but no one got job.

Speaking to media persons Ayesha said, "I have four children and they are well educated. I have not studied but all my children are educated but did not get job so all of them sell fruits."

"When the matter came to marriage, one of the daughters got married. Raisa and Shahjahan Bi wanted an educated boy, but they were not able to find a suitable match because of their complexion and sometimes they rejected the proposal because of dowry, so both are single. Two of my grandchildren are studying biology. They will become doctors," said Ayesha.

Meanwhile, people in the neighbourhood lauded the family's abilities. They said theirs was an educated family had to sell fruits as they did not get jobs.

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Media Release
May 6,2020

Mangaluru, May 6: The Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry has urged the government to consider erstwhile undivided Dakshina Kannada (now DK & Udupi) as one unit for the purpose of movement of people. KCCI president Isaac Vas has written a letter to Karnataka chief secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar in this regard. 

Mr Vas said: Even though the erstwhile Dakshina Kannada district was bifurcated in 1997 for administration purposes, the two districts are actually an urban agglomeration with most of the population residing in suburbs/towns. Office Staff, technical crew and labour of many industries reside in either district and commute daily for work within an efficient transport system.

The present restriction on Inter-district movement in view of the Lockdown is hindering the kick starting of industries and commerce. Workers are deprived of their livelihood and Industry and business owners are finding it challenging to move forward. To add to this, the migrant labour is moving back to their native places further aggravating the situation. Many Industries and Commercial establishments have requested us to take up this matter with the government, he said.

“Hence, we kindly request you to consider these two districts as one geographical area for the movement of people and private vehicles,” he said adding that this would facilitate movement of people for employment and business in either districts of Dakshina Kannada & Udupi.

He pointed out that Bangalore Rural, Bangalore Urban, Ramanagara, Chikkaballapur and Kolar are considered as a single unit as per your order No. RD158/TNR 2020 dt 03/05/2020 (Clause 2(a)).

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