All Saints land row: Church members accuse Bengaluru metro officials of arm-twisting

Civic Issues

With hundreds of trees and part of the church under threat of facing the axe, church-goers and activists have been protesting against the land acquisition.

TNM Staff

The feud over the acquisition of land next to All Saints Church near Vellara Junction in Bengaluru has taken a new turn, with the All Saints Church Congregation Welfare Association accusing Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) of arm-twisting Church of South India (CSI). The BMRCL had proposed to temporarily acquire 3,797.271 sq. m land on the All Saints Church premises. The land is required for the construction of an underground station on Namma Metro’s Phase 2 line between Gottigere and Nagavara. With hundreds of trees and part of the church under threat of facing the axe, church-goers and activists have been protesting against the land acquisition. The association is now accusing BMRCL Director Ajay Seth of threatening the CSI of taking over the property by use of force. “We were to learn that Reverend PK Samuel, Bishop of the Church of South India Karnataka Central Diocese and the Church’s Pastorate Committee have repeatedly appealed to Bangalore Metro and other authorities of the State to drop the idea of damaging the Church and any of its property. In response, Mr. Ajay Seth, IAS, Managing Director of Bangalore Metro, has written in his 25th May 2019 letter to the Bishop threatening to take over the church property, and permanently too, if the Church refuses to part with the land voluntarily,” a statement from the association reads. The association claims that the threats had led to the CSI parting with the land temporarily without being aware that it violates judicial verdicts and amounts to destruction of biodiversity. BMRCL’s chief public relations officer B L Yashvanth Chavan, refuted the allegations and said that the church members must cooperate as BMRCL was planning to transplant the trees and not cut them down. “They have not been allowing officials near the property. Work is getting delayed. Each day’s delay is proving to be more costly,” Chavan said. According to the letter sent by Ajay Seth noted in May 2019 to the CSI, the land requirement was reduced from 4,480.573 sq. m to 3,797.271 sq. m. “The BMRCL is constrained to initiate the process to acquire 3,797.271 sq. m of land in All Saint’s Church premises on a permanent basis that facilitates construction of the metro station,” the letter said. “We remain hopeful that Bangalore Metro and the State Government will revisit its decision to dump its equipment and to drill the tunnel from within All Saints Church. There are clearly viable alternatives, involving far lower capital investment, which also eminently improve the utility of the metro for the wider public use. We, and several others, have already provided these suggestions in meetings with Mr Seth and his team. Yet, it is deeply distressing that Bangalore Metro is adamant about destroying our Church,” said Ebenezer Premkumar, a member of the association.      

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/30egXdx
via IFTTT

IMA scam: SIT arrests govt official for allegedly accepting bribe of Rs 4.5 crore

Crime

LC Nagaraj, who was appointed as Competent Authority to probe IMA's fraudulent activities gave Mansoor Khan a clean chit in his report.

TNM Staff

The Special Investigation Team probing the Ponzi scam perpetrated by IMA, on Friday arrested an Assistant Commissioner of the Bengaluru North sub division and a village accountant for helping IMA founder Mansoor Khan obtain a no objection certificate (NOC) in exchange for a bribe of Rs 4.5 crore. LC Nagaraj, the Assistant Commissioner and village accountant Manjunath, were arrested for enabling Mansoor Khan to obtain the NOC he needed for a loan. SIT sources say that Nagaraj earlier told the sleuths during investigation that he had tried to take action against Mansoor Khan by issuing him several notices. However, the probe revealed that Nagaraj was allegedly misusing his position and had demanded a bribe of Rs 4.5 crore in exchange for an NOC and a report favouring IMA. SIT sources say that the state government had appointed Nagaraj as the Competent Authority to probe the tip-off received from Reserve Bank of India that Mansoor Khan and IMA were running fraudulent operations. Soon after he was appointed the Competent Authority in June 2018, Nagaraj had issued a public notice in newspapers seeking information from the IMA investors regarding irregularities. However, in February 2019, Nagaraj had filed a report and submitted it to the state government stating that Mansoor Khan and IMA were not running fraudulent operations. SIT sources say that Nagaraj allegedly penned down a report in favour of Khan, so that the Revenue Department would have no problem issuing him an NOC. On Friday, Nagaraj was picked up from the Karnataka High Court. Nagaraj, who was at the court for a case, was picked up by SIT sleuths who said they wanted to question him. Dressed in plainclothes, the sleuths intercepted Nagaraj in the High Court canteen. SIT also raided Nagaraj’s residence. SIT sleuths also arrested village accountant Manjunath for allegedly helping Nagaraj in the transaction with Mansoor Khan. “The money was handed over in three instalments of Rs 1.5 crore each. One of the IMA’s employees met with Manjunath at a coffee shop and handed over the money,” an SIT official said. Nagaraj is the second government official being arrested in the IMA case. Last week, the SIT arrested BDA executive engineer PD Kumar Nayak for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 4 crore from Mansoor Khan. PD Nayak had allegedly helped IMA get a clean chit from the Revenue Department after the company came under the RBI’s lens. Nayak had allegedly taken the money from Khan stating that he had to give it to a senior IAS officer, who had previously served as BDA chief.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2NxWgI7
via IFTTT

'Big blow to state's economy': Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy on Union budget

Politics

CM Kumaraswamy said that the budget would reduce the state's GST share by Rs 1,600 crore.

IANS

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Friday expressed his displeasure over the Union Budget's proposal to cut the state's share of Goods and Services Tax (GST) in te 2019-20 fiscal. "The Budget has given a big blow to the state's economy, reducing its share of the GST by Rs 1,600 crore for this fiscal," tweeted Kumaraswamy in Kannada and English. In a series of tweets from the US where he is on a week-long private visit since June 29, the Chief Minister said the additional special duty of Re 1 and a road and infrastructure cess of Re 1 per litre on petrol and diesel would limit the state's scope to increase its own value added tax (VAT) on the transport fuels. "Fuel price hike by the Central government hits everyone directly and indirectly," said Kumaraswamy in another tweet. Expressing his disappointment over the Union Budget, the Chief Minister said he expected more from Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on sectoral allocations to the southern state. "Sitharaman, who represents Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha as a BJP member, has disappointed me, as she did not announce any new project or financial aid to the state, especially the Bengaluru suburban train service for this year," he lamented. Noting that a budget was a not a mere statement of intent in the Indian context, Kumaraswamy said though a budget speech was the most important medium for communicating with the poor, Sitharaman's speech had certain intents, but nothing beyond them. "Had great expectations from the maiden budget of FM @Sitaraman, but disappointed. Though creation of FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations) and strengthening of e-NAM (electronic National Agriculture Market) and promoting traditional industries are welcome moves, more morale boosting programmes were desirable for the farming sector," he said in a tweet. Kumaraswamy, who also holds the finance portfolio, had presented his second state budget for fiscal 2019-20 on February 8, 2019.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2XOnrCd
via IFTTT

Karnataka HC orders probe into Bengaluru FC's use of Kanteerava Stadium

Sport

Athletes say that the football club has made alterations at the stadium ever since the club began using it.

Prajwal Bhat

The Karnataka High Court has ordered the state government to conduct a probe into the manner in which the Sree Kanteerava stadium was allowed to be used by JSW Bengaluru Football Club for the past three years. The stadium comprises of a football field and an athletics track around it and athletes say that the football club has made alterations at the stadium ever since the club began using it.  The court has asked the state government to formulate a policy for the use of government stadiums by third parties as per the law laid down by the Supreme Court, which says government properties cannot be leased without public notice and bidding. The division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice HT Narendra Prasad issued the order for a probe while hearing a petition filed by former national and international athletes including Ashwini Nachappa, GG Prameela, and others against Bengaluru FC over its use of the Kanteerava Stadium.  "Firstly, a public notice should have been given and a bidding process should be there in allowing Bengaluru FC to use the stadium. After the initial lease period ended, it has been extended without due process," says SD Eashan, an international shot-putter and Asian games medalist, who is also one of the petitioners.  He is among 49 athletes petitioning against the football club.  "Natural grass on the field was removed (by the club) and artificial grass was put in its place and sand has also been used on the field. On days before matches, the first track is blocked by advertising hoarding and wires used for the football matches. This is impeding athletes training at the stadium," says Eashan.  In May 2019, holes cropped up on the athletic track at the stadium. Coaches attributed the holes to lack of  maintanence by the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES).   Read: With no maintenance, potholes develop on Bengaluru Kanteerava Stadium athletic track   The athletes also point out that the stadium was originally built for athletics ahead of the 1997 National Games.  The stadium has simultaneously been the home stadium of the football club since 2014. The football club was allowed to use the stadium’s track and field area by the DYES in order to gear up facilities at the stadium as one of the cities hosting the 2017 FIFA U-17 World. Eventually, Bengaluru was dropped as one of the host cities after a delay in infrastructure works at the stadium.  The club signed a three-year agreement to use the facilities at the stadium in 2014 and then extended it in 2017. The club has played all its home matches since 2014 at the stadium. The counsel appearing for the football club informed the court that the present agreement with the stadium has ended and that a plea for renewing it is under consideration before the state government. The counsel further said the stadium was upgraded by spending around for ₹5 crore. A Bengaluru FC official declined to comment on the issue until the case is resolved.  Football fans have been thronging to watch Bengaluru FC games in the stadium for five years now with the attendance crossing 20,000 on some occasions. The 2018 ISL final was played at the Kanteerava stadium in which Bengaluru was beaten 3-2 by Chennaiyin FC.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/32c4dpt
via IFTTT

Piped drinking water to all households: Karnataka govt begins Rs 53,000 cr project

Water

Experts, however, note that the plan is not sustainable and the government has not yet conducted public consultation sessions.

Theja Ram

Phase 1 of the Karnataka government’s ambitious Jaladhare project, aimed at providing piped water supply to every household in the state, is all set to begin this year. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Friday said that the state government is expected to release Rs 1,300 crore for the first phase, which will see drinking water pipelines installed from reservoirs in Mandya, Raichur, Bijapur and Kolar districts. According to Chief Engineer of the Rural Water Supply Department Prasad, who is in charge of the project, the detailed project report (DPR) for the project for only Mandya has already been prepared. “The DPR is awaiting cabinet approval. The project aims at extracting drinking water from KRS and Kabini dams to each and every household in Mandya via pipeline. Just like Bengaluru, which gets Cauvery water, all districts in the state will get drinking water in taps in their home. The water will be drawn from local reservoirs,” Prasad said. The ambitious project is estimated to cost Rs 53,000 crore and made its appearance in Chief Minister Kumaraswamy’s maiden budget of 2018-19. The project involves construction of pipelines and purification mechanisms so clean drinking water is supplied to every household. “Based on the feasibility study that was conducted, by 2050, the population of Karnataka will require only 10% of the live storage of water in all reservoirs in the state for drinking water purpose. This is close to 70 TMC. This is not a lot and the project will provide water security to everyone in the state,” Prasad added. However, environmental activist Leo Saldanah says that the piped water project is not going to solve the water security issue looming over Karnataka. “Big infrastructure projects such as Jaladhare will require laying down of pipelines. There is barely any water in these reservoirs and the pipes are going to be clogged with muck rather than have full fledged water moving through it. The project will require regular maintenance, which means investing more money and more money to pump water which means more thermal power needed to generate electricity. This is a carbon-inclusive approach, which is not sustainable in the long run,” Leo says. Leo also notes that the government not yet conducted public consultation sessions for the project.  He maintains that the government must concentrate on solutions that require minimum investment but reap maximum benefits. He suggests ensuring that every household has a rainwater harvesting system to maintain groundwater levels.   “Not a single drop of rainwater must be wasted. In rural areas, especially, ensuring that all open wells are desilted will ensure that rain water is collected. Every home must be rain water proofed so that every drop is collected and reused. This is not going to cost the government thousands of crores of rupees. It is economical and sustainable,” Leo added.    

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2XuCK3K
via IFTTT

Budget 2019: Swachh Bharat Mission to focus on rural solid waste management

Budget

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that more than 95 per cent of Indian cities have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF).

TNM Staff

In the first full budget of the second term of the Narendra Modi-led BJP government, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed to undertake sustainable solid waste management in every village in an expansion of the flagship Swachh Bharat Mission.  Addressing the Parliament, Nirmala Sitharaman listed the achievements of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) launched by the Narendra Modi government and added that more than 95 per cent of Indian cities have been declared Open Defecation Free (ODF). Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said, “We have to build on this success. We must not only sustain the behavioural change seen in people but also harness the latest technologies available to transform waste into energy. I now propose to expand the Swachh Bharat Mission to undertake sustainable solid waste management in every village.” The central government is now targeting safe and scientific disposal of solid and liquid waste in the second phase of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. In the first phase of the mission, 9.6 crore toilets have been constructed while more than 5.6 lakh villages have become Open Defecation Free (ODF), according to the central government. The Economic Survey 2018-19 tabled by the Finance Minister on Thursday also stated that 99.2% of rural India was covered by the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.  The central government’s cleanliness initiative started in October 2014 as a nation-wide campaign aimed at cleaning up streets, roads and infrastructure of India's cities, towns, and rural areas. One of the objectives of the campaign was to eliminate open defecation.  “More than 95% of cities have also been declared ODF. More than 45,000 public and community toilets across 1,700 cities have been uploaded on Google maps, covering more than 53% of India’s urban population. Almost 1 crore citizens have downloaded Swachhata App,” the Finance Minister said.  She also announced that on October 2, 2019, the Rashtriya Swachhta Kendra will be inaugurated at the Gandhi Darshan in Rajghat to mark the occasion of India becoming open defecation free. Read: Budget 2019: Top 13 announcements by Nirmala Sitharaman  

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/30bNeSw
via IFTTT

11 arrested in Karnataka for circulating video of sexual assault on young woman

Crime

The police, which had set up two teams to investigate the incident, had earlier confirmed that all five men accused of raping the woman were arrested.

Prajwal Bhat

Dakshina Kannada police have arrested 11 people for circulating the video showing a 19-year-old college student being sexually assaulted by five men. The district police, which had set up two teams to investigate the incident, had earlier confirmed that all five men accused of raping the woman were arrested. Read: Sexual assault video of young woman circulated in K’taka, 5 college students held The second team formed by the police investigated the spread of the contentious video, which began circulating on Tuesday evening, bringing the incident into focus.  Muralitharan (29), Chandrashekhar Mayya (47), Shreyansh S (20), Poovappa (26) ,Pawan Kumar D (19) ,Mohit P G (18), Dhyan A N (18) and Adwit Kumar Naik N (19) were arrested in connection with circulating the video on Thursday while three others - Shoukat Ali, Nazeer and Jabeer - were arrested on Friday. The men are from different areas in and around Puttur and have been arrested for circulating the video. They were charged under section 66 E (violation of privacy) and 67 A (publishing or transmitting of material containing sexually explicit act) of the IT Act and Section 4 and 6 of Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, 1986.  Video leaked amid student elections in college According to Dakshina Kannada SP BM Laxmi Prasad, the video was leaked by a student of the institute in which the woman and the men accused studied in. It was leaked in a bid to harm the chances of one of the accused in the college elections, said the SP. "There was college elections recently and there was a scuffle between two groups of students. The video was circulated on Tuesday evening and we have arrested the people who circulated the video initially," Dakshina Kannada SP BM Laxmi Prasad told TNM.  According to the investigating police, Mohith, who studied in the same institute as the woman and the five men accused of rape, downloaded the video on to his phone after it was uploaded by Prakyath as a status on GB Whatsapp (a modified version of WhatsApp) briefly. Prakyath is among the five people accused in the case.  The video was sent to Poovappa, a physical education teacher at the college, who later sent it to Shreyansh, another student in the same institute. Shreyansh posted the video in various WhatsApp groups after which it was widely shared.  Following this, Prakyath, along with Sunil, Gurunandan, Kishan and Prajwal, all 19-year-old students of the same college in Puttur, were arrested by the police on Wednesday. Viral video brings case to light The incident occurred sometime in late March or early April and only came to light when the video of the incident was shared widely on Tuesday. Dakshina Kannada police approached the woman to file a complaint. Investigating police stated that the accused men threatened the woman with the video due to which she did not reveal the incident to her family members.  Alongside the investigation into the perpetrators of the incident, the police decided to take suo motu action in the case to stop the circulation of the video. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Dakshina Kannada SP BM Laxmi Prasad urged residents in the district to not post the video on social media or save it on phones or computers. 

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/2FU8Tal
via IFTTT