Many resident groups and activists in Bengaluru are unhappy with the Karnataka government’s decision to unceremoniously transfer Karnataka IFS officer Manoj Kumar from his position of Member Secretary of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board in Bengaluru.
Kumar declined to comment over the development.
At the time of publishing an online petition demanding the officer be reinstated to his former position has got close to 500 signatures within a day’s time.
A section of activists alleges that he was transferred as he was undertaking a few important projects that were aimed at bringing transparency in the board’s working. He was also working on expanding the board and was keen on building frameworks ensuring compliance with norms.
A few residents pointed out recent instances when Manoj Kumar had gone against the status quo and had acted on complaints. Some of them include authoring a scathing report submitted to the Karnataka High Court regarding Bengaluru’s Solid Waste Management system in connection with dumping mixed solid waste in landfills. The report had stated that the BBMP was not following due procedure in waste management including running dysfunctional waste plants in contravention of Solid Waste Management Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016. He had also reportedly recommended criminal prosecution of officers for violating enviornmental laws.
Pranay Dubey, a resident-activist based in Electronic City, said, “Is the recent report submitted to the High Court the reason for his transfer? The government must cancel his transfer order. It is totally unfair and injustice to an officer who had worked for citizen’s welfare.”
Zibi Jamal, member of Whitefield Rising, a collective which successfully went to court for the closure of a Graphite India factory unit said, “Does good work mean getting transferred? This proves that nobody wants good governance in Karnataka. He is one of the best officers we had engaged with during our struggle. He was always ready to hear us.”
The transfer came within just 14 months of him taking this position while transfers are normally recommended once an officer completes three years in the department. Top officials confirmed to TNM that the transfer was not recommended by the Forest Department.
Incidentally, Manoj Kumar is yet to get a posting after he was asked to take charge as the Chief Conservator of Forests, Canara Circle, Sirsi but subsequently withheld.
Sources close to Kumar, said, “He was working on a system to ensure contactless enforcement and compliance which meant license or consent seekers have to meet officers very few times and hence limited harassment or bribery associated with the board.”
“Other than that, he was trying to streamline the functioning of the common Effluent Treatment Plants. Dysfunctional ETPs are the reason for frothing lakes and rivers in the city’s outskirts,” the source added.