Hasiru Dala won the award for its zero-waste management concept. They have 7,500 garbage collectors.

Waste segregation, manure, terrace gardening are some of their successful concepts. It is monitoring 33 dry waste collection centres. They have also given health insurance, opened bank accounts and scholarships for the garbage collectors.

The other awardees are: Kali Tiger Reserve, Dandeli (for successfully curbing poaching); Dr Chandra from T Narasipur Town who has planted more than 2,000 saplings; environmentalist Lingaraja V Niduvani from Hubballi and Ananda Kumar from Gudibande in Chikkaballapur district who has been responsible for conserving several trees on NH-7 and for ensuring that these trees were not felled during road-widening works.

Presenting the awards, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “As announced in the budget, the government will ensure plantation of eight crore saplings in 2016-17.”

“The temperature has gone up in an unprecedented manner. We can see the proof of it in Mysuru, Bengaluru, Bidar and Kalaburagi,” he said.

“Unseasonal rains is another indication. Of one crore people living in Bengaluru, if each one were to plant two saplings, the city could retain greenery,” Siddaramaiah added.