Justice Gopala Gowda expresses concern at growing pollution, increasing political interference in PCBs

Expressing serious concern at the growing air and water pollution in the country, and increasing political interference in the functioning of statutory bodies like the Pollution Control Board (PCB), retired Judge of the Supreme Court V. Gopala Gowda called for greater vigil on the part of the public.

Addressing a media conference along with waterman of India Rajendra Singh and social activist Bolisetty Satyanarayana here on Tuesday (November 25), Justice Gopala Gowda stressed on the importance of protecting rivers, forests and other natural resources to safeguard human rights. Effluents were being released into the sea, without proper treatment, polluting water resources and depriving fishermen of their livelihood and causing cancer and other deadly diseases among the people.

While courts and governments were doing their bit, public cooperation was needed to prevent pollution. The Centre was spending crores of rupees on cleaning of the Ganga but pollution problem was continuing. The same was the case with other rivers in the country. There were PCB s in every State but in some States, chairperrson and other members were not being appointed. The State governments were not following the judgments of the courts on appointment of PCB chairpersons.

Mr. Rajendra Singh said that corruption was coming in the way of implementation of pollution control measures in India. The time was ripe to fight against pollution, against over exploitation of natural resources. He recalled his fight against pollution and the rejuvenation of rivers in the country during the last 50 years. “I have rejuvenated 23 rivers in the last 50 years. The integration of nature and culture is important for a healthy nation,” he said.

It was unfortunate that the ‘graph of some industrialists’ was rising at a rapid pace and expressed the view that they were flouting all environmental norms. Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan, who also holds the environment portfolio, was unable to do much on the issue. Recalling his association with Bolisetty Satyanarayana during the past 15 to 20 years in their journey against pollution, protection of the Constitution and human rights, Mr. Rajendra Singh expressed condolences to Mr. Satyanarayana on the recent demise of his wife Nagamani.

Mr. Satyanarayana said that while the death of his wife was a vacuum, which could not be filled, he pursued environment protection campaigns more vigorously and be available to the people more than ever before.