Latest news with #KarnatakaStatePollutionControlBoard
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Karnataka pollution control board tightens rules for high-rise projects
BENGALURU : The Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) has issued a strict directive mandating that before granting plan approval (CC) and occupancy certificate (OC) for multi-storey residential complexes, prior approval and consent from the board must be confirmed. If these clearances are not obtained and the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike ( BBMP ) still issues CC and OC, the responsibility will rest entirely with the BBMP. Responding to a letter from BBMP seeking clarification, KSPCB's Member Secretary on May 30 outlined the rules requiring prior consent for establishment (CFE) and consent for operation (CFO) from the board before any such approvals can be issued for multi-storey buildings. Since 2015, it has been mandatory for KSPCB to verify compliance with the Water Act, Air Act, and other environmental protection laws before construction begins. This specifically applies to buildings with over 120 flats within the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) limits. According to sources, this rule aims to prevent construction on lake beds, stormwater canals, and sensitive ecological areas. Projects must allocate space for sewage treatment plants (STPs) and waste management units before seeking approval. Seeking KSPCB consent after construction will not be accepted. BBMP has been strongly advised to ensure prior environmental clearance before granting approvals.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
In la-la land, all lakes are doing fine
industrial effluents Karnataka State Pollution Control Board water pollution Chandapura Lake Chandapura Lake National Green Tribunal The amount of chemicals in these Vrishabhavathi river, Chandapura Lake shows that industries in the catchment areas of these water bodies are discharging untreated effluent loaded with heavy metals and other chemicals V Ramprasad, lake activist Over the years, multiple sources have confirmed pollution in city lakes owing to the discharge of. However,(KSPCB) begs to report oncontrol status of industries in Bengaluru shows that only one out of over 4,000 industries operating across the city lacks adequate facilities. The rest are either treating their effluent through effluent treatment plants, sewage treatment plants, common effluent treatment plants, or are connected to the underground drainage only industry without an adequate treatment facility is located in the Bengaluru North zone. City-based lake activists and experts say this just proves that agencies are hand-in-glove with to V Ramprasad, a city-based lake activist and founder of Friends of Lakes, Shivapura, Chandapura, Byramangala, and Yarandahalli lakes, along with the Vrishabhavathi river catchment in Bengaluru, are only a few of the water bodies contaminated with industrial effluents.'Pollution of Vrishabhavathi river catchment andin the city due to industrial effluent has also been recognised by the. The amount of chemicals in these water bodies shows that industries in the catchment areas of these water bodies are discharging untreated effluent loaded with heavy metals and other chemicals. There are many industries across the city without adequate treatment facilities. It cannot be just one,' said the National Green Tribunal (NGT), in December, had sent notices to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) and KSPCB after registering a suo motu case regarding high levels of heavy metals and toxic substances in the Arkavathi River stretch near Thippagondanahalli (TG Halli) was after a water quality analysis conducted by Paani Earth, a city-based non-governmental organisation, on samples collected from multiple points of TG Halli reservoir and Dodda Mudavadi Bridge, located 10 kilometres upstream of the Arkavathi-Vrishabhavathi confluence, showed alarming levels of heavy metals and toxic substances, including mercury, the banned pesticide DDT, cancer-causing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and also took up the issue of Chandapura Lake pollution and had rapped KSPCB for its inaction. In an order dated October 10, 2022, the tribunal had directed the Karnataka government to pay an environmental compensation of Rs 500 crore for not maintaining the of this, Rs 141 crore was to be recovered from 12 industries in the catchment area of Chandapura Lake that were discharging hazardous waste into the water body.
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
KSPCB to host student competitions in Bengaluru to mark World Environment Day
BENGALURU In a bid to promote environmental awareness among the youth, the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) will organise a series of drawing and essay writing competitions for school children as part of the World Environment Day 2025 celebrations. The event will take place at the Jawahar Bal Bhavan in Cubbon Park, Bengaluru, on June 3. This year's theme is 'Ending Plastic Pollution', aligning with global efforts to tackle one of the most pressing environmental challenges. The competitions are open to students from primary, middle, and high schools. While students from all three categories can participate in the drawing competition, the essay writing contest is specifically reserved for high school students. The event is scheduled in two sessions: primary and middle school competitions will be held from 10 a.m. to 11.30 a.m., while high school students will compete from 12 noon. Winners from each category will be honoured during the World Environment Day function on June 5, which will be held at Tripura Vasini, Gate No. 2, Palace Grounds, Ballari Road. Students interested in participating can register in person at the KSPCB Regional Office, Bengaluru South, located at Nisarga Bhavan, 7th D Cross, Shivanagar, Bengaluru – 560010. Additionally, registrations are being accepted via email at bngcitysouth@
Time of India
27-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Report reveals worst water quality in 47 lakes
water quality report Karnataka State Pollution Control Board lake management goals National Water Monitoring Program National Green Tribunal The recentby the(KSPCB) has highlighted that nearly 41% of Bengaluru's lakes are highly polluted. While 115 water bodies were tested for 34 parameters, 47 were categorised under Class E, the worst water quality possible. The number of lakes with the worst water quality in January this year was 33, while in February the number rose to lake activists said that it is disappointing that none of theare being met despite the Centre's ongoing(NWMP). Bengaluru lakes are still under threat from various issues, including unabated encroachment, entry of sewage, and a lack of basic the country's Water Act mandates a comprehensive program to prevent and control pollution of water bodies, experts opined that this aspect has always been missing with the KSPCB. The board has only been monitoring the water quality of lakes without taking any action against the sad state of Bengaluru's lakes has drawn the attention of the(NGT) on multiple occasions in the past. In one of the instances, following a news report by BM last year, the tribunal had issued notices to KSPCB, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), and Karnataka Tank Conservation and Development Authority (KTCDA) due to critically low oxygen levels (below detection level) in 12 out of 117 lakes that were checked by the number of lakes classified as Class E has risen compared to earlier this year, KSPCB data indicates a decline in the overall count of polluted lakes in the corresponding period in 2024 and 2023, nearly 50% of the lakes studied were found to be heavily polluted.'The number of lakes with Class E water quality keeps fluctuating, and there is not much difference between 52 lakes with the worst water quality last year in comparison to 47 lakes this year. The rest of the water bodies fall under class D,' said a city-based lake activist, highlighting that not even a single lake being monitored by KSPCB has Class B or Class C water quality. 'The Pollution Control Board has failed in its duties,' said the activist.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Earn Re 1 for crushing a plastic bottle in Karnataka from this World Environment Day
Bengaluru: Soon, an empty water bottle that you trash as waste could fetch you money! All you need to do is drop those bottles into a reverse vending machine (RVM) set up by urban local bodies at various locations in your city. The RVMs will not just crush and shred the bottle, but also give you Rs 1 in return per bottle. Determined to make Karnataka plastic-free, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) planned to unveil these RVMs in front of Vidhana Soudha during Environment Day celebrations on June 5. Buoyed by a pilot initiative in Hubballi a few weeks ago, the board submitted a proposal to the state govt for installation within the limits of city corporations and municipalities. PM Narendraswamy, chairperson of KSPCB, said, "If you incentivise anything, people will respond to it. Earlier, there was hardly any response to shredding machines as there were no incentives. But now the machines will give you a coin (Re 1) for every bottle that you deposit. If you do not drop, at least the rag pickers who collect these bottles will drop them at these machines as they will get money." Swamy clarified the machines will be installed by its manufacturer and hence, will not cost anything to the govt. "We only need to provide them with space and operational requirements. For them, the crushed, shredded plastic will be the revenue," he clarified. KSPCB also claimed it would go plastic-free and would recommend the govt to also embrace plastic-free administration aligning with the United Nations' motto 'End Plastic Pollution' from June 5. Close on the lines of KSPCB, completing 50 years, a year-long celebration has been planned with a lot of awareness activities.
