Pollution control laws to get more teeth

The State government is planning to amend laws related to prevention of environment pollution to give them more teeth and make offences non-bailable to ensure stringent punishment to environment polluters, including industries and factories. Currently, Karnataka State Pollution Control Board officials are armed with “toothless” laws which empower them only to issue notices to factories, industries, and other establishments that release effluents to river/lake or air. With owners of industries and factories apparently not responding to notices issued by board or department officials, the department has proposed drastic changes in the laws related to prevention of environment pollution, said Ecology, Environment, and Tourism Minister B.S. On the lacunae in the existing laws, Mr. Singh said security guards posted at the gates of factories would not permit KSPCB officials to visit the premises to issue notices to the management. On tourism, he said on the lines of the Centre’s National Monetisation Pipeline policy, Karnataka’ Tourism Department was planning to “unlock value” in the State’s tourism places, Jungle Lodges and Resorts, and facilities managed by t he Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation.