Several officials of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) on Thursday inspected buildings within Cubbon Park, the city’s biggest lung space, to ensure that pollution control measures were adequately employed.
KSPCB chairman Lakshman inspected Venkatappa Art Gallery, Visveswaraiah Industrial and Technological Museum, Prestige Obelisk, Cubbon Park police station and Bal Bhavan based on a complaint about the entry of sewage into the park premises.
It was observed that the storm-water drain adjoining a rain water collection tank behind Venkatappa Art Gallery was filled with debris and weeds are obstructing flow of rainwater from the tank.
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“Open burning of solid waste was seen on the premises of Bal Bhavan and brought to the attention of its chairperson Bhavana. Ms. Bhavanna said that immediate action would be taken to ensure segregation of solid waste,” a Karnataka State Pollution Control Board statement said.
Canteen dumping waste
A Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) canteen, which was discharging plastic straws and kitchen waste into drains, was asked to stop immediately.
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“A meeting of all stakeholders in Cubbon Park will be called for a personal hearing and BWSSB has been asked to submit a pipeline network map of the park,” Mr. Lakshman said in the statement.
Emission centres
under scanner
Vehicular emission testing centres in fuel stations were also part of the inspection on Thursday.
It was found that there were only three petrol vehicles that had failed checks at a particular centre while the number of vehicles caught during enforcement drives was higher.
In order to keep a check on the emission centres, KSPCB will carryout random checks on these centres in the future, Mr. Lakshman said. The officials of the Transport Department also checked 2,000 vehicles and booked 134 cases against polluting vehicles.