Member of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board N.A. Madhyastha said on Saturday that the Rs. 4 lakh crore investment promised by various industries at the Global Investors' Meet in Bangalore, which concluded on Friday, could lead to major environmental problems in the State.
He was speaking at the inauguration of a legal literacy camp to mark World Environment Day organised by the District Legal Services Authority, the Department of Forests and the Udupi Bar Association at the Volakadu Government Composite High School here.
Dr. Madhyastha said that if the assured investments came in, it would be difficult to have clean air and water. There would be a massive drinking water shortage in the State by 2025. Economists and bureaucrats should remember that “good economics is possible in a good environment”, he said.
It was necessary for policy-makers to see that development took care of environmental concerns.
About a year ago, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa asked the Union Government to provide Rs. 100 crore to conserve biodiversity in the State.
Within a few weeks of this, the State Government decided to de-reserve forest areas for industrial activity.
