BBMP to set up C&D waste processing unit in Kannur

BBMP announced it would sign an agreement with the private company Rock Crystal in a couple of days, to set up a construction and demolition (C&D) waste processing unit in Kannur. BBMP’s announcement comes after the High Court ordered it to find solutions for solid waste management in two months. The court had threatened to stop new constructions in the city if it didn’t.

The agreement for the processing plant has been pending since May. The BBMP had written to the Deputy Commissioner, Bangalore Urban, in May, when the agreement was prepared.

But a delay in processing the agreement led to delay in revenue department demarcating land for the unit. Rajesh K, the owner of Rock Crystals, said that once the agreement was signed, the plant would be ready in six months.

Source: Bangalore Mirror

Ola launches self-drive service 

The app-based cab aggregator Ola has launched a new self-driving service. It will allow customers to rent a car for anywhere between two hours and three months. Called the Ola-Drive, the service will allow people to customise their package by selecting the number of hours, kilometres and fuel to be used.

Ola-Drive has a fleet of 500 cars now, and is limited to Bengaluru. Arun Srinivas, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer of Ola, said that in the first phase of its rollout, Ola-Drive will be offered as a “short-term self-drive car-sharing service”. The company said that it is investing about $200 million for expansion in this space.

Currently, there are five station points from where customers can pick up Ola-Drive cars – at parking levels of Garuda Mall, Ashok Nagar; Forum Mall, Koramangala; Vega City Mall, Bannerghatta; Ola Drive Zone; and Golf View Campus (IBC), Murugeshpalya.

Source: The Hindu | Deccan Herald

Company buses denied entry into priority lane

The Outer Ring Road Companies’ Association (ORRCA) has requested authorities to permit private buses and transport vehicles on BMTC’s priority bus lane from Silk Board to Baiyappanahalli. ORRCA said that if the priority lane becomes operational for BMTC buses, there will be high-density vehicle movement on the other lanes.

However, C Shikha, MD of BMTC, said that on the ORR, more than 2.5 lakh passengers travel by BMTC buses every day, and that 130 buses operate during the peak hours on average. Hence permitting private buses too would defeat the purpose of the priority lane.

While trial runs on the priority lane start on October 20, they will become operational from November 1.

Source: The Hindu | Bangalore Mirror

Fake news hampering green efforts

Fake news, online trolls and propagandists are spreading misinformation and overshadowing genuine ecological studies and research, said scientists from various institutions at an IISc event. False data is hampering conservation efforts across India.

The experts also complained that both government and private organisations are flouting laws and regulations on environment and wildlife conservation. An example is the rampant misuse of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which is a preliminary study essential to gauge the impact of infrastructural projects on the environment. Often, infrastructural projects begin even before the EIA is completed, the scientists said.

Source: Deccan Herald

[Compiled by Revathi Siva Kumar]