BANGALORE: The garbage crisis in the city took centre stage at Green Summit, a two-day convention organised by FKCCI on the occasion of World Environment Day.
Chief guest Margaret Alva, governor of Rajasthan, called Bangalore a ‘stinking city’ and said the garbage mismanagement was a challenge to policy makers.
“There is a need for using waste as a resource and waste to energy plans are required. However, there are a number of hurdles and powerful politics in play, here was well, even with regard to issues of garbage collection”, she said.
The Governor also criticised the hydel projects in the Western Ghats. “There are 5 hydel projects and the Kaiga project as well. Where are the people supposed to go?” she said.
Now is the time for industries to initiate projects for renewable energy, she added. Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee, however, warned that the green culture should not be overdone with unfeasible projects.
‘Power Sector Problem-ridden’
P Ravi Kumar, Additional Secretary, Energy, said regulatory problems with land conversion and tariff problems with bio-mass plants continue to plague the power sector in the state.
He said the push for wind and solar energy policies is a step in the right direction.
He informed that the government is looking at increasing the tariff to revive biomass units.
Comparing non-conventional energy investors to real-estate developers, the official said, “They are sitting idle on assets given to them and waiting till investors knock on their doors. Resources were provided to develop 10,000 MW for the state, but barely 100 MW is being produced”.
Alva to Settle Here
Alva did not rule out her return to active politics, with her term as the Governor of Rajasthan ending in three months.
She remained tight-lipped on the issue and said she plans on settling in Bangalore once her term ends.
Transport Dept Proposes Tax Cuts
K Amaranarayan, Transport Commissioner, said Bangalore can become the electric vehicle capital of the world. He proposed that the state government reduce VAT and road tax on electric vehicles and also set up public charging points across the city. “The biggest problem in the city today is low-cost mobility. Electric vehicles can assist in reducing noise and air pollution and our expenditure on fuel,” he said. Comparing road tax and VAT on electric vehicles across India, Amaranarayan said taxes need to be done away with to promote the green mode of commute.