TN will not allow Mekedatu dam to be constructed: CM Edappadi in Assembly

Water

The TN CM’s speech comes ahead of the Karnataka CM’s meeting with Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar to discuss the environmental clearance for the project.

TNM Staff

Wiki commons/SugurajS (CC BYSA 4.0)

In the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Tuesday, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said that the state government will never allow the Mekedatu dam in Karnataka to be constructed. The speech came a day before Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa and state Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi are scheduled to meet union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar. “Karnataka brought it up in the Cauvery Water Management Authority and we opposed it strongly. Then it was removed from the agenda. There is a case against this dam in the Supreme Court. Hence let me categorically state that the government of Tamil Nadu will not allow them to construct Mekedatu dam,” he said in the Assembly. He was answering a question raised by DMK’s Durai Murugan, who is also the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. CM Edappadi added that the Supreme Court order on the Cauvery dispute clearly stated that the water share to Tamil Nadu shall not be obstructed or diverted. This empowers Tamil Nadu in the legal battle on Mekedatu.  On Wednesday, the Karnataka delegation is scheduled to meet Javadekar. They are expected to discuss the Environmental Clearance (EC) for the construction of the Mekedatu dam in Ramanagara. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project was prepared by the government of Karnataka in 2018 and the project was slated to receive EC immediately after that. However, amid the fall of the coalition government in Karnataka and the COVID-19 pandemic, the project fell on the backburners. However, during its budget speech for 2020-21, the state government had promised that the construction of the dam would be a priority. It cited the amendments to the Land Acquisition Act in 2018, which allowed for environmental clearance of forest land for irrigation projects. Sources said that the Chief Minister will discuss the feasibility for issuing the clearance. As per the DPR, the project requires 5252 hectares of land. Of this, 3,181 hectares identified is reserve forest area; 1,870 hectares is forest land; and 201 hectares is land that belongs to the Karnataka Revenue Department. Tamil Nadu has been opposing the construction of the dam since its planning stages and has written multiple letters to the union government, urging it to not give the government of Karnataka permission to go ahead with the project.

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Why Karnataka Land Reforms Amendment Act is detrimental to farmers

Land Reforms

Farmer groups fear that many farmers from the Dalit, Adivasi or OBC communities would be left landless if the Act is implemented.

Theja Ram

Representation photo

Farmers across Karnataka will gather at Bengaluru’s Freedom Park on September 21 to protest the amendment to the Karnataka Land Reforms (Amendment) Act 2020, which came into effect in Karnataka on June 13. The Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, an association of farmers across the state had sent multiple representations to Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to roll back the decision. However, farmer groups said that the state government was in turn “trying to convince farmers” that the decision is beneficial to them. “It has created a life or death situation for farmers and we will be completely destroyed if this is implemented. The government is saying that the price of our land will increase. But we don’t want to  be in a situation where small farmers, especially Dalit farmers are displaced,” said Kodihalli Chandrashekar, a member of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha.  He alleged that the amendment is a backdoor entry for corporations to buy agricultural land or lease agricultural land. “80% of cultivators in Karnataka are small farmers and most of them belong to Dalit, Adivasi or OBC communities. Most agricultural labourers are also from these communities and they have the most to lose. They are not big farmers. They will be lured or threatened to lease their land or sell it. Also, agricultural labourers will lose their jobs and end up in slums in Bengaluru,” he alleged.  Under the new amendment, non-agriculturalists can also buy agricultural land. Earlier, a paani-holder or those who have been identified as agriculturalists could only buy agricultural land. This was done by waiving Sections 79(a) and 79(b), which mandated the existence of a paani.  In addition, the state government has waived Section 79(c), which means those who illegally purchased agricultural land, will not be prosecuted.   The new amendment has also raised the ceiling for purchasing agricultural land. The lands are classified into irrigated, partially irrigated, dry and barren lands. The ceiling is now 52 acres, 80 acres, 120 acres and 216 acres respectively.   “Under the law, irrigated land refers only to the land which has irrigation connections from a dam. Even those lands where borewells are used are not considered as irrigation land. Most farmers use borewells to irrigate their lands for cultivation. This is also a big problem,” Dr Prakash said.  Farmer groups said that the government’s disinterest in rolling back the project has angered many, as they are anxious about whether they would be financially secure. “Yediyurappa wore a green shawl (one which represents support to farmers) and took oath as Chief Minister. Now he is saying that the move is for our benefit. It feels like he has poisoned farmers with his words. We will fight this until it is rolled back,” Kodihalli Chandrashekar said.

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Actors Diganth and Aindrita Ray summoned for questioning in Bengaluru drugs case

Crime

They have been asked to appear before the CCB on Wednesday morning.

TNM Staff

The Central Crime Branch of police in Bengaluru has asked two more members of the Kannada film fraternity to appear for questioning in connection with the high-profile drugs case. Officials at the CCB said the husband-wife duo Diganth Manchale and Aindrita Ray have been issued summons to appear at the CCB office at 11 am on Wednesday.   While Aindrita had made her debut in Sandalwood with Jackpot in 2006, the two worked together in 2008 film Meravanige. The couple had gotten married in 2018 after a decade of courtship. It may be recalled that sleuths probing this drugs case had first issued summons to Kannada film star Ragini Dwivedi asking her to appear for questioning on September 3. While Ragini had sought for time to appear before the police, her residence was raided by the CCB officials on September 4. Since then the CCB have arrested five persons including another film star Sanjana Galrani, party planner Viren Khanna in connection with the drugs bust case. Among the arrested are also one Karnataka government employee  Ravi Shankar, a friend of Ragini’s and an alleged drug peddler. Even on Tuesday morning, the CCB had conducted raids at the property owned by one of the co-accused in the case.   TNM has earlier reported how even after arresting 10 persons in connection with the case, CCB has not found any drugs on any of the accused so far. Sources have said that the CCB now has digital evidence suggesting alleged procurement, distribution channels and usage of drugs. Police are yet to gather any material evidence in the case. The digital evidence includes cell phone data, call records, electronic messages. Police have so far seized laptops, mobile phones and CCTV footage as part of the evidence in the case. Further, it was reported that the raids had failed to yield any significant evidence as the accused were apparently tipped off about the raids.

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Bengaluru drugs case: Vivek Oberoi's brother-in-law Aditya Alva’s resort raided by CCB

Crime

Police suspect that Aditya who has been unreachable on his phone for the last 10 days, is likely to be in Mumbai.

TNM Staff

File image

Continuing with the raids in connection with the high-profile drugs bust case in Bengaluru, the Central Crime Branch, on Tuesday, raided the north Bengaluru residence of Aditya, son of late Karnataka minister Jeevaraj Alva.  Sources in the CCB said that evidence in the form of CCTV footage has been extracted from the raids. Police suspect that he is likely to be in Mumbai and has been unreachable on his phone for the last 10 days since he was being hunted by the police. Efforts are on to nab him. The raids on Tuesday morning were carried out at the 'House of Life' near Hebbal, the CCB said. Police said that this sprawling property with a bungalow spread over 4 acres of land is where many high profile parties were hosted in which drugs were consumed and trafficked. It was earlier reported that real estate dealer Aditya, incidentally brother-in-law of Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi, was among the 12 people who are booked in the case in which actors Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjana Galrani have been arrested. It was also reported Aditya who was friends with high-profile party planner Viren Khanna, another accused arrested in the case so far had reportedly given him access to Sandalwood circles to supply drugs.  The Kannada film industry had been under the scanner of the police for drug-related offences after the police and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) nabbed an international drug trafficking racket in multi-city raids earlier in August.  On August 21, the NCB following a tip-off had conducted raids at Nikoo Homes, an upscale gated community in Bengaluru and seized 96 pills of MDMA, weighing 40 gm, and 180 LSD blots. Another raid was conducted at Royal Suites Hotel service apartment in Kalyan Nagar, 145 MDMA pills weighing 60 gm were seized along with Rs 2,20,500 cash. In connection with this, the police had arrested a couple of drug peddlers who led them to bigger fishes in the drug trafficking network. Among the kingpins who were arrested subsequently, one Anikha D had told the police that there were multiple Kannada film celebrities in her customer base.

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Karnataka farmers’ groups to protest against 3 Agri bills to be tabled in Parliament

Agriculture

Various farmers’ group, Dalit groups and Trade Unions are jointly opposing the ordinances to be tabled as Bill in the Parliament and the Karnataka Assembly.

Abhinaya Kannan

Representation photo

Karnataka farmer groups, Dalit groups and Trade Unions have joined hands to oppose the three ordinances listed to be tabled as Bills in the Parliament. They will also be holding a rally at the Freedom Park in Bengaluru on September 21, along with a Janta Adalat (People’s court). These groups are among more than 200 farmers’ groups across the country who are opposing the agriculture bills, stating that it will boost the agribusiness companies at the expense of the farmers.  According to the press release, 27 different organisations linked to the welfare of farmers, workers and Dalits are going to protest the various changes in the existing laws related to Land Reforms. It also says that the state government is helping multi-national companies (MNCs) at the cost of farmers, landless agricultural labourers and Dalits.  They also feel that the Karnataka government is working against the interest of its own people by bringing amendments to the acts in the Assembly session that will commence from September 21. The statement also said that various associations will protest in front of the houses of their local leaders on September 16, seeking the withdrawal of the amendments.  Various farmers’ groups in the country have been protesting against the introduction of three Bills: Farmers' Produce Trade And Commerce (Promotion And Facilitation) Bill, The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Bill and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, which will replace ordinances promulgated by the Union government earlier. The Union Cabinet announced amendments to these ordinances on June 4.  Of the three Bills, two were slated in the list of business for Lok Sabha on Monday, when the Parliament sessions commenced. Union Minister Narendra Singh Tomar claimed that these Bills will help farmers get a remunerative price for their produce as well as private investments and technology.  Assuring the House that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) will stay, Tomar also explained that 86% of the farmers have agricultural lands that are less than two hectares and are unable to reap the benefits of the MSP.  The opposition parties have been alleging that the Union government brought in the legislation without consulting with the states under whose domain agriculture and mandis (market place) come. "Such a law can only be brought by state governments. Through these Bills, the Union government will nullify the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) law enacted by various state governments," said Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, Leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha.  The ordinances were promulgated on June 5, 2020. However, the Union Agriculture Ministry notified them on July 20.  Read: Explained: Why farmers are against 3 agri Bills to be tabled in Parliament  

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Beyond Rhea and Kangana, another celebrity drug case is unfolding in Karnataka

Drugs

As with the Rhea case, there are several theories that have kept media channels competing with one another.

Theja Ram

Over the last couple of months, the headlines that have dominated most of India’s national media surrounds the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput. With the actor’s former girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty arrested, attention has shifted to Kangana Ranaut’s battle with the Maharashtra government. Meanwhile, a case with some parallels is playing out in the state of Karnataka too. All eyes are now on an alleged drug trafficking operation in Bengaluru, which, according to the police, had supporters and enablers in Sandalwood — the Kannada film industry. Here too, two prominent women actors — Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjjanaa Galrani have been arrested.  The Rhea Chakraborty case had led to a lot of buzz in Kannada media as it played out on prime time. Parallelly, in August, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) had busted a drug racket in Bengaluru and arrested a woman called Anikha along with several others. A few days after this arrest, on August 29, the NCD issued a statement that actors and musicians in Karnataka were under the scanner for alleged drug use and trafficking. This triggered the media’s obsession with the case and soon, TV channels were full of speculation on who could be using drugs and what drugs. On September 1, filmmaker Indrajit Lankesh appeared on one TV channel and claimed that he had a list of names of people who were using drugs. Even as several names did the rounds, on September 1, the Central Crime Branch of the Bengaluru police arrested a man named Ravi Shankar. A government employee, Ravi Shankar was accused of organising rave parties and soon his pictures with friend and actor Ragini Dwivedi went viral. Within a matter of days, the CCB arrested around 10 people, including two women actors (Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjjanaa Galrani), Viren Khanna, a prominent party planner who founded Bangalore Expats Club, and Vivek Oberoi’s brother-in-law Aditya Alva.  Like in the Rhea case, the material evidence, in this case, seems to be slim, or least that's the assumption one makes from what the police have revealed so far publicly. All that the CCB has gathered so far in terms of drug seizure is 10 gm of the recreational psychoactive drug MDMA. This was picked up at the residence of a Senegalese national, Loum Pepper, who is suspected to have supplied drugs to Viren Khanna.  The police case is that the actors were using drugs and also sharing them with others at these parties. But like in the Mumbai case, here too the police’s probe relies heavily on digital evidence: of alleged WhatsApp chats between the accused and an alleged WhatsApp group Viren Khanna had created to send invites to people for his private parties.  Though only the chargesheet will tell if the police have a watertight case to get the actors convicted, the coverage in Karnataka has been non-stop and titillating. This is much like Rhea Chakraborty’s case, where several national television channels have vilified her and painted her as a part of a clandestine drug syndicate. ‘Explosive new information’ or “mega exclusives” about the lives of the two women actors have become a regular occurrence across channels.  “Look at the clothes she (Sanjjana) is wearing and partying around. Forget our culture, there is a huge drug mafia in Karnataka,” began a bulletin in one of the regional channels. Pictures of actor Sanjjana’s engagement with Dr Azeez Pasha a few months ago also surfaced. Since the engagement had been kept as a secret by the family, the revelation became huge breaking news. Channels claimed that Sanjjana was married to Pasha, and accused him of peddling drugs. The CCB has, however, not questioned or arrested him till now. Over the last few weeks, regional TV channels have been covering no other issue, save the drug case. On Monday, a regional channel put up a picture of Sanjjanaa Galrani with a former police officer. The channel’s anchor said, “The CCB had in its remand application said that the actors were tipped off about the probe against them by a source.” The suggestion was clear, that the police officer was the informant. As with the Rhea case, there are several theories that have kept media channels competing with one another. While some claimed that the actors secured prime property, others said that they would take politicians and actors to Sri Lanka to take part in rave parties. The police have neither disclosed any such evidence nor mentioned it in remand reports.  Just as actor Kangana Ranaut has been alleging nepotism among the ‘Bollywood mafia’, there have been celebrities in the state who have been frequenting TV channels, taking on the role of creating a ‘drug-free Karnataka’. One such person is Bengaluru-based businessman Prashanth Sambargi who has been giving statements to the media every day, stating that Ragini and Sanjjanaa are “drug abusers” and have several connections. The CCB called Prasanth for questioning as he had claimed he had proof of the drug dealings. Sources in the agency told TNM that since he didn't have any proof other than pictures taken at parties, he has been told that he would be summoned again and given time to gather evidence. So far, Ragini Dwivedi and Sanjjanaa Galrani have been accused of using drugs. The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act does penalise users. However, the punishments are not harsh compared to those charged with selling drugs in commercial quantities. The NDPS also mentions that users must be rehabilitated. Although the legislation is not very sympathetic towards users, the criminalisation of drug use does carry a lot of stigma to it.  The existing stigma surrounding users, where they are treated as criminals, is hardly conducive towards effective rehabilitation. It is also to be noted that recreational, social drug use is more common in urban India than is widely acknowledged and not every case is one of addiction. However, the coverage in both the Rhea Chakraorty case as well as the Sandalwood actors' case has been sensational. The focus on what the women wore, ate, posted on social media and even their hand gestures have been intensely scrutinised. In Karnataka, the misogynistic tone of news coverage has failed to ask questions of male actors, directors and producers in these industries, let alone probe the system that enables drug use.

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Bengaluru has 15806 active containment zones, 15122 have returned to normal

Coronavirus

Only Dasarahalli and Yelahanka reported less than 1,000 active containment zones, at 952 and 532 respectively.

TNM Staff

Image for representation: PTI

Bengaluru has 15,806 active containment zones as on Monday, of which RR Nagara has the most at 3,761, a bulletin by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) stated. The BBMP said that out of the total 30,928 containment zones reported in the city so far, 15,122 had returned to normal, while the remaining were active.  Bengaluru South reported 3,761 active containment zones as per the bulletin, followed by Bengaluru West at 2,313 and Bengaluru East at 2,109. While Bommanahalli reported 2,081 active containment zones, Mahadevapura reported 1,301. Only Dasarahalli and Yelahanka reported less than 1,000 active containment zones at 952 and 532 respectively. Officials said that 51% of all containment zones remain active while 49% have returned to normal. Meanwhile, with 8,865 persons getting discharged on Monday, recoveries outnumbered 8,244 new COVID-19 cases across Karnataka, while 119 succumbed to the virus in a 24-hour period.  "With 8,244 new cases, the state's COVID-19 tally rose to 4,67,689, including 98,463 active cases, while 3,61,823 persons have been discharged till date, including 8,865 during the day," the state health department bulletin on Monday said. With 119 deaths in 24 hours, the state's toll has risen to 7,384 since March 9, when the pandemic broke out. Bengaluru Urban, which is the epicentre of coronavirus in the southern state, reported 2,966 fresh cases, taking its tally to 1,73,628, including 40,527 active cases and 1,30,627 discharges. With 37 fatalities during the day in the city, its death toll rose to 2,473. Among other districts, Mysuru reported 677 new cases, followed by Dakshina Kannada (413), Davangere (325), Hassan (295), Bengaluru Rural (275) and Ballari (264). Belagavi recorded 533 discharges, the highest among the districts, followed by Hassan (332), Dakshina Kannada (297), Shivamogga (282), Ballari (274) and Dharwad (248). "About 800 COVID-19 patients are in the ICU across the state, including 263 in Bengaluru Urban district, 106 in Hassan, 67 in Dharwad, 44 in Ballari and 40 in Kalaburagi," said the bulletin.   With IANS inputs

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