Namma Kasa Namma Javabdhari flagged off on World Environment Day

The State generates 11,085 tonnes of waste every day, of which 75% gets dumped in landfills or beside lakes, etc. More than 15 lakh tonnes of waste lies unprocessed in landfills, said Subhash B. Adi, who heads the National Green Tribunal’s State Level Committee monitoring solid waste management.

He was speaking at the launch of ‘Namma Kasa Namma Javabdhari’ at Raj Bhavan here on Wednesday. With the launch, Raj Bhavan will now start composting all the wet and garden waste it generates in situ.

Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala said it would be difficult to bring about the change without the cooperation of citizens. Civic awareness must start early in school. He also directed the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to penalise those who burn garbage. “Climate change is real and the environment will protect us only if we protect it,” he remarked.

Earlier, Chief Justice of High Court of Karnataka A.S. Oka said it was the fundamental duty of all citizens to protect the environment. “Bengaluru now has the opportunity of participating in this project. Show the country that the city has taken the lead in showing respect and compassion towards the environment,” he said.

Pledge of cleanliness

The staff of Bengaluru Division of South Western Railway observed World Environment Day by taking a pledge of cleanliness.

Divisional Railway Manager Ashok Kumar Verma inaugurated a vertical garden and pet bottle crushing machine at KSR Station. Saplings were distributed to passengers as well. Mr. Verma later told reporters that the Bengaluru division had effectively harnessed solar energy, which has resulted in reduction in expenditure on energy. He also said tree plantation and garden development were among the major environment-friendly activities here.

For effective solid waste management, door-to-door collection of segregated garbage in Railway Colonies was being composted.

Saplings planted

City Police Commissioner T. Suneel Kumar planted saplings at the Government Higher Primary School, Victoria Layout, on Wednesday. He recalled the time spent at that school. He noted that the 82 lakh vehicles on the roads and glass and concrete structures in the city were creating the heat island effect.