Make Bengaluru plastic-free by 2030: CM Siddaramaiah appeals to citizens
Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has called for a collective effort to make Bengaluru plastic-free by 2030, revealing that the city produces 900 tonnes of plastic waste daily.
Speaking at the golden jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) at Palace Grounds, the CM urged all stakeholders and the public to work together to reduce plastic usage and its harmful effects. “By raising awareness about the environment and working together with the government, the city can achieve a plastic-free status by 2030,” he said.
Siddaramaiah emphasised that clean air, water, and surroundings are vital for all life forms, and citizens must actively participate in preserving them.
He also appealed to Bengalureans to segregate dry and wet waste before handing it over to the municipality to improve waste management.
The CM announced that a corpus fund of Rs 1 crore would be set up in the KSPCB. He added that programmes would be organised every year from the interest earned from this deposit and awards would be instituted in the name of environmentalist Saalumarada Thimmakka who passed away recently.
Forest, Environment and Ecology Minister B. Eshwar Khandre supported the CM’s call, urging citizens to help make at least 50 wards of Bengaluru plastic-free this year. He encouraged people to replace single-use plastic with cloth bags and emphasised the importance of the pollution control board officials working without external pressures to achieve this goal.
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SC slams freebies culture, says states should open avenues for employment
New Delhi (PTI): The Supreme Court on Thursday slammed the freebies culture, saying it was high time to revisit such policies that hamper the country's economic development.
Taking note of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Ltd's plea, which proposed to provide free electricity to all irrespective of financial status of consumers, the top court said it was quite understandable if states hand-hold the poor.
“Most of the states in the country are revenue deficit states and yet they are offering such freebies” overlooking development, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said.
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The bench said economic development of the nation gets hampered with this kind of largesse distribution and states should work to open avenues for employment instead of giving free food, cycles, electricity to all.
The top court, however, issued notice to Centre and others on the plea of the DMK government-led power distribution firm which proposes to provide free electricity.
The power firm has challenged a rule of the Electricity Amendment Rules, 2024.
“What kind of culture are we developing in India? It is understandable that as part of the welfare measure you want to provide to those who are incapable of pay the electricity charges,” the bench asked.
“But without drawing a distinction between those who can afford and those who cannot, you start distributing. Will it not amount to an appeasing policy,” the CJI asked.
The bench asked as to why the Tamil Nadu firm suddenly decided to loosen the purse strings after the electricity tariff was notified.
“The states should work to open avenues for employment. If you start giving free food from morning to evening then free cycle, then free electricity then who will work and then what will happen to the work culture,” the CJI said.
The bench said states, instead of spending on development projects, do two jobs - paying salaries and distributing such largesse.
