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Monday, September 16, 2019
Sunday, September 15, 2019
Bengaluru MP wants white-topping road projects to be withdrawn
The MP cited the high costs of Rs 12 crore for one kilometre of roads and traffic jams caused due to the extended construction period as reasons for stalling the project.
Adding to the chorus of BJP leaders in Karnataka including Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, three-time Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan has suggested that the contentious white-topping projects be called off. This remark came when the MP was interacting with residents of the Central Business District on Saturday. “I have requested the Chief Minister to stop this project. I am not the deciding authority,” the MP told TNM. The MP cited the high cost of Rs 12 crore for one kilometre of road, and traffic jams caused due to the extended construction period, as reasons against the project. Currently, the CM has ordered a probe by the Chief Secretary on the use of funds for two phases of white-topping works and all further works are stalled until the probe report is ready. Office of Deputy Chief Minister Ashwath Narayan who is handling matters related to the city’s civic issues currently in the absence of a Bengaluru Development Minister also said that there won’t be any white-topping work sanctioned until there is further clarity. White-topping is a process where normal bitumen asphalted roads are given a concrete topping in the hope of giving them a longer lifespan and to prevent formation of potholes. BBMP and the state government in the previous years had said that white-topping is the ultimate cure for the pothole menace, since concrete roads have a lifespan of around 30 years, unlike asphalt roads, which need to be tarred every three or four years. But experts and a section of citizens had questioned the BBMP’s haphazard planning and the delay in executing the projects without any public consultation. Some experts also said roads were being built unscientifically, altering the height of roads from the drains. Read: Why the white-topping of roads in Bengaluru is riddled with problems Some residents had even gone to the Karnataka High Court objecting to white-topping of the road from Madhavan Park to Nettakallappa Circle, alleging that the BBMP had adopted unscientific methods. They claimed that white-topping will make the road uneven and it will lack drainage facilities for both rainwater and sewage as no culverts have been built. Some activists and the opposition BJP had also questioned why good roads were being rebuilt, and alleged corruption in the form of kickbacks from contractors to be the driver behind the project. Read:K'taka CM Yediyurappa orders probe on Bengaluru’s white-topping, Tender Sure works
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‘People forced to live like dogs’: Kannada organisations ask PM for flood relief
The association also urged the Centre to settle the Mahadayi dispute fearing acute water shortage in the north Karnataka districts in the summer.
File image
Unhappy with the current situation prevailing in north Karnataka following the recent floods, pro-Kannada organisations have written to the Prime Minister in the hope of getting prompt relief from the Centre. The Kannada Organisations Action Committee in Belagavi, which was the most affected district in the state, has sent a letter to the PMO on Saturday on the issue. Urging the PM to intervene, the association said that there might be starvation deaths pointing to a recent tragedy where a four-year-old child died due to malnutrition in the district. The association also asked the Prime Minister to solve the interstate dispute between Karnataka and Maharashtra regarding the Mahadayi river water sharing issue. In its letter, the association mentioned that the Centre could have released at least 50% of the estimated loss amount after the government received the flood damage assessment report by none other than Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmal Sitharaman. Speaking to TNM, president of the association Ashok Chandargi said, “We have elected 25 BJP MPs from the state. Why have none of them have tried to sort the issue out? The CM even went to Delhi, even then no funds have been released. Why is this happening?” He added, “I can understand that the full extent of the moneyclaimed by the state cannot be given, but at least a portion of that can be given as interim relief. People are forced to live like dogs.” The letter also stated, “People of the flood-affected districts eagerly waited for you to do an aerial survey of the flood damage, when you visited the state to watch the Chandrayaan mission live. But unfortunately you did not come to the flood affected districts. We are unable to understand the Centre’s stony silence on the agonies faced by flood victims.” It added, “After an aerial survey by two top dignitaries of your government, we had very high expectations that the relief funds will be released to meet our grave situation. But we have been disappointed following non-release of funds despite frequent visits by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka Yediyurappa ji to New Delhi to seek central assistance.” Mahadayi dispute On the Mahadayi issue, the association urged the PM to intervene and settle the matter amicably as there are BJP-led governments in Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra. The letter said that if the dispute dragged in the Supreme Court like the Cauvery issue, which went on from 2007 to 2014, people of 13 taluks of 4 districts, including the Hubli-Dharwad twins cities, will suffer heavily due to acute drinking water shortage in the summer months
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Protest against ‘non-Kashmiri, all-male’ panel discussion on J&K in Bengaluru
“What justification is there for an event that does not include a single Kashmiri or anyone who has taken a public stand against the abrogation of Article 370?” the protesters asked.
Over 35 people, including prominent journalists, authors and activists have spoken out against Bengaluru-based Bangalore International Centre for its event on September 15, Sunday, titled 'Jammu and Kashmir: The Way Forward,' which was a panel discussion on the events after Article 370 was abrogated. The speakers at the event were Ashok Malik, Senior Journalist and Political Analyst; Lt Gen Prakash Menon (Retd), Director of Strategic Studies, Takshashila Institution; Anand Arni Distinguished Fellow, Takshashila Institution;and Nitin Pai Co-founder and Director, Takshashila Institution. In a statement, India Against Hatred has expressed their deep reservations about the event. “Under the circumstances, how can the very first event being held in the BIC to discuss the developments of August 5 and thereafter be premised on the assumption that the post-abrogation scenario is a fait accompli that need not, cannot and must not be questioned? And that all that remains is for “the Indian government and civil society” “to manage the political, social and security consequences arising from the move”?” the statement said. The statement, at the time of writing, has been endorsed by over 35 people, including journalists, activists and authors. “What justification is there for an event that does not include a single Kashmiri or anyone who has taken a public stand against the abrogation of Article 370, or anyone who has reported from the ground on the reality of the current situation in Kashmir? We won’t even get into the acceptability of manels – and this is a non-Kashmiri, upper-caste, all-male panel – in this day and age,” the statement added. “The BIC maintains that it is a “neutral” space that provides a forum – open to the public – for bi-partisan debate and discussions where different points of view can be heard,” the statement said, adding, “If the BIC stands by its claim that it is committed to genuine, non-partisan debate that enables multiple, diverse schools of thought to contend, it must not associate itself with events like this one which promote an unquestioning, unilateral approach to current events,” the statement said. Reacting to this, V Ravichandar, Honorary Director, Bangalore International Centre, told TNM, "As the panel discussion today was to begin, some representatives wished to make a statement. BIC believes in freedom of expression and listening to all voices. They were given time to make their statement which they did. Post that the panel discussion started. The entire video of the event (90 minutes) will be uploaded by tomorrow (Monday) and we request readers to view it.” On August 5, the union government had abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, removing special status for Jammu and Kashmir; it also converted the erstwhile state into two Union Territories – Jammu and Kashmir, which will be a Union Territory with Legislature, and Ladakh, a union territory without legislature. A day before, on August 4, a massive clampdown was issued in Jammu and Kashmir. Many leaders in the Valley, including Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti, were placed under house arrest and continue to remain so. Mobile and internet services were suspended in the state and while authorities deny any incidents of violence and dissent, there have been reports of protests and action by the government in the Valley.
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At Bengaluru bus stand, a burnt bus asks commuters to refrain from vandalism
The gutted bus was exhibited at the busy Majestic bus stand to inform people about the importance of the public property.
On Friday, commuters at the Kempegowda Bus station in Majestic at the Bengaluru City Centre were presented with an unusual sight. Authorities had placed a burnt bus at the entrance of the terminus. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus was wrapped with banners providing information about its manufacture date, route, journey distance and its last date. One of the banners read “I belong to you and carry passengers every day. You need to protect me. Instead, you stone me, burn me… for what fault of mine.” Other placards pasted on the bus read, “Respect and value your property. Destruction is your own loss." Miscreants stone pelting and damaging government buses during bandhs or protest have been increasing over the years. In 2017-18, the revenue loss due to bandhs was Rs 3.97 crore, while in the year 2018-19, this amount jumped to Rs 13.16 crore. Over the past 3 years, KSRTC has faced a lot of losses, owing to miscreants inflicting damage by burning buses or by pelting stones at them. Since April 2019, a total of 24 buses have been damaged during bandhs or protests and one amongst them was burnt. The bus that was kept on display was burnt on September 4 by miscreants during the protest against the arrest of Karnataka Congress leader DK Shivakumar. Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) which provides intra-city bus services have also suffered a loss of about 43 lakhs in the past 3 years. 5 KSRTC buses and 3 BMTC bus were burned by miscreants since 2016-17. Speaking to TNM, KSRTC Majestic Divisional Controller, Sreenivasan, said, “It was burnt during a protest. Now one service is reduced, one bus from the fleet has gone, taxpayer money has been wasted.” On talking about what the public should learn from this, he aadded, “People should be aware from this day, you yourself face the loss if you stone or burn the bus.”
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Media misreport RTO inspector involved in Bengaluru accident as ‘drunk’
Alt News contacted the electronic city traffic police station, Bengaluru who confirmed that news of the accused being drunk is false.
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By Arjun Sidharth, Alt News On September 12, a RTO inspector in Bengaluru crashed his vehicle into an auto-rickshaw, seriously injuring the driver. Soon after, social media was abuzz with the claim that RTO inspector Manjunath, who was involved in the crash, was drunk at the time of the accident. The claim was accompanied by visuals from the scene of the accident. It soon went viral on Facebook. Media reports on the accident Mirror Now, the English news channel of the Bennett Coleman group, reported the same day with the headline, ‘Drunk RTO inspector rams vehicle into autorickshaw; auto driver battling for life’. The article states, “In a case reported from Bengaluru, a drunk Regional Transport Office (RTO) Inspector knocked a parked autorickshaw after which the driver has suffered severe injuries and is battling for life in the hospital. The incident raised several questions about the department’s responsibilities, as the inspector was found in an inebriated state during his duty hours.” News9, a regional news channel based in Karnataka, broadcast news of the accident with the words, ‘Drunk RTO inspector rams car into auto’ and ‘Drunk driving menace’; the anchor stating, “The man has been identified as Manjunath, who was drunk on duty. The RTO inspector has been detained by the electronic city traffic police.” The video of the broadcast is posted below. The reports also stated that auto-rickshaw drivers had staged a protest in the locality after the accident. A report by Asianet, which was titled, ‘“Drunk” RTO inspector knocks down auto, protest erupts in Bengaluru’s Hosur road’, published a day after the accident, ironically stated that no trace of alcohol was found on the accused, who was subjected to an alcometer by the traffic police. Other Kannada media entities which reported that the RTO inspector was drunk, included Suvarna News (part of Asianet News network) and Public Tv News. FACT CHECK: NOT A CASE OF DRUNK DRIVING Alt News contacted the electronic city traffic police station, Bengaluru who confirmed that news of the accused being drunk is false. “The person was not under the influence of alcohol. A breath analyzer was used by the traffic police to determine this. However, those gathered at the spot had insisted that a proper test be conducted. So we arranged for a detailed medical examination to be conducted at a hospital. It emerged that he was suffering from low blood pressure. This was not a case of drunk driving.” A report by The Hindu states that the medical report of Manjunath had revealed that he was not drunk, but under medication. In the latest development, RTO inspector Manjunath passed away on September 13, a day after the accident. This was confirmed to us by electronic city traffic police. It has been reported by Asianet. An accident in the heart of Bengaluru involving a RTO inspector was grossly misreported by Mirror Now and Kannada media, and falsely relayed on social media. It may be noted that the accused, RTO inspector Manjunath was NOT drunk at the time of the accident. Note: This article was first published on Alt News and has been republished with permission.
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Saturday, September 14, 2019
8 injured after bus traveling to Bengaluru catches fire in Tumakuru
While Neelamma was the only passenger who suffered burn injuries, seven others sustained minor injuries and were treated at the Tumakuru district hospital.
A private bus plying towards Bengaluru caught fire on NH4 at Tumakuru in the early hours of Saturday injuring eight persons. A 24-year-old woman named Neelamma, who was coming back home to meet her husband in Bengaluru, has sustained 50% burn injuries. According to the Tumakuru Rural Police, Neelamma was the only victim who suffered burn injuries. Seven others have sustained minor injuries and were treated at the Tumakuru district hospital. "Neelamma had gone to visit her parents in Yadgir. Her husband is a KSRTC bus driver and lives in north Bengaluru. She was to meet her husband at the bus stop in the morning. Neelamma was the last to be evacuated from the bus," the Tumakuru Rural Police said. At around 4.30am, the bus driver saw smoke coming out from the front of the bus. The driver immediately stopped the bus and with the help of the maintenance personnel, began evacuating the passengers. "There was a short circuit in the bus' engine, which led to the fire. Our fire station received a call at 4.45pm and within minutes, we had dispatched a fire engine to rescue the passengers. By the time the fire engine reached the spot along with the ambulance, the driver and maintenance persons had evacuated most of the people," Tumakuru Fire Station officials said. The Fire & Emergency Service personnel say that the passengers panicked and were trying to move out quickly from the sleeper bus. Neelamma was in the lower berth and was unable to get out fast, as people from the upper berths had jumped down and were pushing each other. "Obviously the people panicked. The bus was fully on fire when the firefighters went in and rescued Neelamma," officials added. Neelamma was rushed to the Tumakuru District Hospital and later shifted to Bengaluru's MS Ramaiah Hospital, where she is currently undergoing treatment. Tumakuru district hospital officials say that Neelamma sustained 50% burns and is currently critical. The Tumakuru Rural Police have registered an accident case.
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