Anti-endosulfan activists step up agitation, warn of moving Supreme Court

March 13, 2011

Uppinangady, March 13: Dr Ravindranath Shanbhag, the chairman of Udupi-based Human Rights Protection Foundation on Sunday urged the central government to ban use of endosulfan, failing which the NGOs will move the Supreme Court.

He was speaking at a meeting held at Alankaru, after meeting the families of the victims of endosulfan and demanded that the Government should impose a ban on the chemical within a month and should also stop its production.

Dr Shanbhag also urged the government to conduct an in-depth study of the villages that have witnessed spraying of endosulfan.

Government should also provide relief and rehabilitation to the affected people, besides providing medical facilities, including door-delivery of medicines and check-up facilities.

If the government fails to fulfill these demands, the agitation will be stepped up, he warned.

The president of Alakaru Anti-Endosulfan committee president Peer Mohammed Saheb presided over the meeting. Kokkada committee president Sridhar Gowda, Puthur consumers' forum activist Sanjiv Gowda, Alankaru GP president Keshav Gowda, Perabe GP president Gangaratna Vasanth, Alankaru committee secretary Jayakar Poojary, among others, were present.

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Clean and Green on Wheels: Mangaluru’s Push for Electric Public Transport

News Network

November 13,2024

In the heart of Mangaluru, where rising air pollution is spurring public health worries, voices are calling for a greener, cleaner shift in the city’s public transport. Leading this call is APD Foundation, a Mangaluru-based environmental NGO, which has urged Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre to mandate electric vehicle (EV) adoption in public transport.

Abdullah A Rehman, CEO of APD Foundation, emphasized in a formal letter to the minister that Mangaluru’s public transportation system—efficient and organized with both government and private players—could transition smoothly to EVs in stages. He suggested that government-backed financial incentives, partnerships with EV manufacturers, and collaborations with environmental groups could streamline the switch.

Rehman stressed the potential of EVs to cut down emissions, enhance air quality, and reduce noise levels, noting the quieter operation of electric buses. He confirmed that a copy of his letter was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner as well.

However, Dilraj Alva from the Dakshina Kannada City Bus Association noted potential challenges, explaining that the shift might take up to two years due to infrastructure and budget hurdles. Most EV buses, he explained, are procured through aggregators, not directly by individual operators. The addition of charging stations and other essential infrastructure further complicates the transition.

Alva also raised the economic concern: while diesel buses are priced between ₹30-40 lakh, electric buses can cost up to ₹1 crore. Reflecting on recent meetings with companies, including one in Manipal, he questioned the assumption that EVs are an absolute solution to pollution. “EVs aren’t entirely eco-friendly, especially when considering battery disposal,” he cautioned.

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