Here’s what the report card of Bahutva Karnataka on environment, ecology says

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: A civil rights’ group released a report on the state’s environment and ecology recently, their fifth such report in various sectors in the state. In this report, the group of activists, in a virtual meeting, addressed issues related to water sources, pollution and other environmental disasters. While the city’s major problem—encroachments on water bodies’ takes place at an alarming rate, the report highlighted that the encroachments like Arkavathy River and Cauvery continue.

The condition of the Vrishabavathi and Pinakani rivers in the city is worsening despite the enormous efforts, said the report. Activists alleged that these are taking place even after the High Court of Karnataka directed them not to. They also allege that religious statues installed in lakes violate the 2009 Supreme Court directives.

“Karnataka’s environmental boards have been pushed to clear many projects without proper review. Experts in Karnataka are critical of amendments proposed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to existing laws, but the Govt of Karnataka has not taken a stand on these”, read the report by the activists.

Claiming that the Karnataka government has not taken a single step to help contribute to the union government’s move to reduce the emission by 45% from 2005 levels by 2030 at COP27, the activists also highlighted the inability of the government.

The report

Terming it an environmental disaster, they said, “Various proposals are being pushed that compromise the state's environmental health. Diversion of west-flowing rivers to support unsustainable development of Mysuru-Bengaluru-Tumkur region; Mekedatu Mega dam across the Cauvery: Hubli-Ankola railway line at the cost of thousands of acres of forests in the Western Ghats; ropeway and ITIR in the Nandi Hills”.