Minister in-charge of Mandya N. Cheluvarayaswamy inaugurating the golden jubilee celebrations of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in Mandya on Tuesday. | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) chairman and MLA for Chief Minister Malavalli Narendraswamy on Tuesday urged farmers and jaggery makers to stop using old tires and rubber waste as fuel in jaggery units as the practice releases toxic fumes. He advised them to instead use sugarcane husks, traditionally used in the process.
At the golden jubilee celebrations of KSPCB organized jointly by the district administration, zilla panchayat and board at Mandya University grounds, Mr. Narendraswamy said that treatment plants have been installed to treat industrial effluents from large, medium and small factories in Mandya. The purified water is reused in industrial areas, he added.
He said KSPCB’s golden jubilee campaign aims to create awareness about pollution control right from rural areas to the state level, adding that the board regularly monitors water quality in the Cauvery river and its tributaries and analyzes samples at its regional laboratories.
Minister in-charge of Mandya N. Cheluvarayaswamy, who inaugurated the celebrations, emphasized the need to educate children and students about the harmful effects of environmental pollution. It is the duty of every citizen to protect the environment for future generations; creating awareness among students will go a long way in securing their future, he said.
Mr. Cheluvarayaswamy lauded the initiative to distribute menstrual cups to women in the district as part of efforts to make Mandya a “pad-free district” and termed it a laudable step for women’s health as well as environmental protection.
MLA for Mandya P. Ravikumar described the Cauvery as Mandya’s lifeline and expressed concern over its pollution caused by resorts and hotels along its banks. He urged the KSPCB to take strict action against local bodies responsible for such violations.
During the event, menstrual cups were distributed to ASHA workers, teachers and women’s groups, while individuals who contributed to environmental protection were honored with Indira Priyadarshini Awards.
Dinesh Gooli Gowda and Madhu G. Made Gowda, MLC; CD Gangadhar, Chairman, Mysore Sugar Company; Nayeem, Chairman, Urban Development Authority; Kumar, Deputy Commissioner; KR Nandini, CEO Zilla Panchayat; Mallikarjun Baladandi, Superintendent of Police; BC Shivananda Murthy, Additional Deputy Commissioner; and other officials were present.
Published – 28 Oct 2025 20:11 IST
