Markandeya river dispute: A year after TN’s request, Centre yet to set up tribunal

Water dispute

As per law, a tribunal must be constituted within a year of request made by the state governments.

Megha Kaveri

Image for representation/Wiki commons (By TheZionView - https://ift.tt/39vyyWr, CC BY-SA 2.0)

A year after the Supreme Court refused to order a stay on the Karnataka dam project across Markandeya river, a tributary of Pennaiyaru river, directing the concerned states to request setting up an inter-state water disputes tribunal, the matter is still in a limbo. Despite the government of Tamil Nadu’s request to set up an inter-state river dispute tribunal on November 30, 2019, the Union government is yet to act on it. As per the Inter-state Water Dispute Act, 1956, the Union government shall constitute a tribunal within one year from the date of request. “When any request under section 3 is received from any State Government in respect of any water dispute and the Central Government is of opinion that the water dispute cannot be settled by negotiations, the Central Government shall, within a period not exceeding one year from the date of receipt of such request, by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute a Water Disputes Tribunal for the adjudication of the water dispute,” the Act reads. According to a Right to Information (RTI) response provided by the Ministry of Jal Shakti on January 24, 2020, following the request by the government of Tamil Nadu, a notice was sent to the riparian states of Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and Karnataka to get their views on Tamil Nadu’s request. Since no reply was received from these states, the Union government set up a negotiation committee on January 20, 2020 for resolution of the dispute. The negotiation committee was headed by the Chairman of the Central Water Commission (CWC) and had members (Chief Engineers) from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Puducherry, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and Irrigation Management Organisation (IMO). This negotiation committee met twice -- February 24 and July 7 -- to discuss the matter and a final report was submitted on July 31, 2020. “The Negotiation Committee has opined that the Ministry may consider the constitution of Tribunal for settlement of the dispute. No Tribunal has been constituted so far in the matter,” said another RTI response dated November 20, 2020. Read: SC allows K’taka to build dam across Thenpennai river tributary: An explainer Background The issue relates to the government of Karnataka constructing a dam of 500 mcft capacity across Markandeya river in Yargol village in Bangarpet taluk. The dam is being constructed with an aim to provide drinking water to Malur, Kolar and Bangarpet towns and 45 other villages. The project was approved in 2007 and as of 2019, around 80% of the construction is completed. The objection by the government of Tamil Nadu is that the dam will adversely impact the flow of water to the state and it will affect the livelihoods of farmers in Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri, Thiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Villupuram districts. The government of Tamil Nadu, hence, objected to the project and approached the Supreme Court for a stay on further construction. While the Supreme Court refused to stay the project, it ordered both states (Tamil Nadu and Karnataka) to request for a tribunal to decide on the issue. 

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Karnataka councillor alleges she had to undergo abortion after assault by BJP MLA

Controversy

Chandni Naik, formerly with the BJP, was attacked by BJP MLA Siddu Savadi and supporters on November 9.

Theja Ram

Screengrab

The husband of a former BJP councillor with the Mahalingapura Municipal Council in Karnataka’s Bagalkote has alleged that his wife Chandni Naik had to undergo an abortion after she was assaulted by Terdal legislator Siddu Savadi on November 9. The video of MLA Savadi and his supporters assaulting Chandni Naik (32) on the steps of the Mahalingapura Municipal Council, had gone viral on November 9.  After the attack, Chandni Naik was taken to the Mahalingapura Government Hospital, where she was treated for her injuries. “My wife had become very weak after the attack. Although she spoke to the press a few days later, she was getting tired frequently,” Nagesh Naik said. He alleged that on the night of November 23, Chandni began complaining of severe cramps. He said that his wife was three months pregnant with their third child. “She was in a lot of pain when we took her to the hospital. The doctors told us it would be better to abort the foetus. We don’t know much about this. Let the police talk to the doctors. They will find the truth. When we asked the doctors whether the assault could have been the cause for her condition, they said it is a possibility,” Nagesh Naik alleged.  Read: Video of Karnataka BJP MLA pushing and assaulting a woman goes viral BJP MLA denies allegations BJP legislator Siddu Savadi denied allegations that the assault resulted in Chandni having to undergo an abortion. He claimed that he had learned of Chandni undergoing a tubectomy after she gave birth to her second child seven years ago. “So how could she have a miscarriage? There has to be an investigation into this for the truth to be revealed,” Siddu Savadi told the media.  After repeatedly questioned by the reporters, Siddu Savadi said that he had made a mistake by assaulting the woman. “Yes, what happened to her on November 9 was wrong and unfortunate. That should not have happened. Initially my supporters were pushing her but towards the end, I only went to help her and did not want to hurt her. Let there be an investigation,” Siddu Savadi said. He accused Congress leaders of trying to malign his reputation and said that he has requested Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to order a high-level probe into the matter.  The attack on November 9 Chandni Naik was a BJP councillor with the Mahalingapura Municipal Council. The election for President of the Council was to take place on November 9. As Chandni Naik had aspired to be one of the nominees, she told TNM that the BJP leaders did not want her to give her the opportunity to become their President. On November 7, she held talks with Congress leaders and decided to vote on behalf of the Congress during the election as she was promised Presidency if she supported the Congress. MLA Siddu Savadi and his supporters stopped her from entering the building on November 9 as they did not want her and several other councillors, who supported her, to cast their votes fearing a defeat, Chandni’s husband Nagesh Naik told TNM.  In the video, Chandni Naik and two other women corporators can be seen walking up the steps of the Council’s building, when she is stopped by MLA Siddu Savadi. The legislator and his followers can be seen pushing her and some of his followers even assault her. The police personnel can initially be seen standing on the sidelines. However, despite their attempts to intervene, Chandni Naik is pushed down on the stairs, while Siddu Savadi’s supporters can be seen assaulting her. The police, however, intervene once more and rescue her.  MLA Siddu Savadi alleged that Chandni Naik had accepted Rs 15 lakh from the Congress party to vote against the BJP during the election of the President for the Council. “That’s why certain party workers were upset and attacked  her on November 9,” he said.  What the police say Bagalkote SP Lokesh Jagalasar said that three FIRs have already been registered at the Mahalingapura Police Station regarding the case and investigation is on. On November 12, both Chandni Naik and another woman BJP councillor Godavari Baat had filed separate complaints against MLA Siddu Savadi and his supporters stating that they were assaulted outside the Council’s office. MLA Savadi too had filed a counter complaint against Chandni Naik stating that she was attempting to defame him for political gains. “Let the investigation get over and we will be able to give you a clear picture of what happened,” SP Lokesh said.  Opposition outrage Former Congress MLA from Terdal, Umashree, who lost to Siddu Savadi in 2018, said that the incident is equivalent to murder. “The life of a foetus is not a small matter. MLA Siddu Savadi and his supporters brutally beat Chandni Naik. And now she has had a miscarriage. This is nothing short of murder,” Umashree alleged. Brijesh Kalappa, Supreme Court advocate and member of the Congress party, demanded that Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa take strict action against Siddu Savadi. “We were aghast when videos of BJP MLA Siddu Savadhi manhandling pregnant councillor Chandini Naik were screened by TV Channels. The councillor has now suffered a miscarriage because of the brutality. Will BJP act at least now against the MLA?!” Bijesh Kalappa said in a tweet. 

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This Bengaluru scientist is on a mission to free city trees from nails, ads and staples

Civic

While it is illegal to stick bills on trees according to the Tree Preservation Act and Bangalore Municipal Act, there is hardly any enforcement of this rule.

Soumya Chatterjee

A personal mini-accident has led a Bengaluru-based civic activist and his friends to take on a noble campaign to free trees in the city from nails and advertisement staples. On November 15, Vinod Kartavya, who works as an assistant scientist at the Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in the city, was riding his two-wheeler near his home in Sampangi Rama Nagara when he got a phone call from a friend. So he parked his bike on the side of the road and started attending the call under the shade of a tree. But as he leaned on the trunk of the tree, he got hurt as a nail clipped to the tree scraped the back of his head. From then he decided that he would start removing nails and advertising staple pins from the city’s streets so that nobody else gets hurt like him again. “So, every Sunday (starting from November 15), I, either alone or along with my friends, go out on my bike and free the trees from these nails, advertisement placards and other illegal signages that are pasted or stuck in the trees,” he told TNM. “On the first day we collected 40 nails and around 500 staple pins from 10 trees on the Vittal Mallya Road alone,” he added. Continuing on his mission till November 29, Vinod and his friends cleared nails from 40 trees from the Sampangi Rama Nagara ward in the Central Business District area. He said, “As the billboard advertisement has been illegal now by BBMP, the advertisements for Call Centres, PG Accommodation, banking employment, Fortune teller have chosen the wrong path of advertising on the trees for their benefit. Sadly the impact of these on trees are long lasting, when a tree has been hit with nails it's life is going to be drastically reduced to 60 - 70%.”  While it is illegal to stick bills on trees according to the Tree Preservation Act and Bangalore Municipal Act, there is hardly any enforcement of this rule. 

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Kiccha Sudeep appears as guest on ‘Bigg Boss’ Telugu 4 with Nagarjuna Akkineni

ENTERTAINMENT

In the episode, Nagarjuna heaped praise on Sudeep’s upcoming film ‘Phantom’, which in his opinion raises the standard of Indian cinema.

Digital Native

Digital Native

Kannada star Kiccha Sudeep, apart from being known for his roles in popular movies, is also the regular host of Bigg Boss Kannada, whose eighth season is said to start in January. However, Sudeep recently switched up his role as host and appeared on Bigg Boss Telugu as a guest. The Telugu show is hosted by Nagarjuna Akkineni, and is currently in its fourth season. On this note, he tweeted: “Hosting BigBoss has always been me and today was another feel of being a guest on the show of Telugu BigBoss. Splendid it was to share the stage with the ever-charming @iamnagarjuna sir, n to get to spk to the contestants inside the house. Thank you for the warmth sir.” During the episode, the topic of Sudeep’s upcoming Phantom was discussed, and Nagarjuna heaped praises on the Sandalwood actor. Nagarjuna did not miss the opportunity to say that he was thoroughly impressed with the visuals of Phantom, and lauded Sudeep and the film’s director Anup Bhandari.   Hosting BigBoss has always been me and today was another feeln of being a guest on the show of Telugu BigBoss. Splendid it was to share the stage wth the ever charming @iamnagarjuna sir, n to get to spk to the contestants inside the house. Thank you for the warmth sir. pic.twitter.com/dxY1RRQpPk — Kichcha Sudeepa (@KicchaSudeep) November 28, 2020   Nagarjuna also revealed that when he met director Anup Bhandari, he was shown the film reel and was very impressed by it. He added that Phantom has upped the level of Indian cinema. To this, Sudeep pointed out, “The whole idea was to narrate a good story and in a way that everybody can watch and connect to. The whole intention wasn't to something that is pan-India or pan-world but to tell a story which everybody can react to and reach. And for that, we need a scale, sir. Though the content is fabulous, we wanted the lift the scale and I think your Annapurna Studios came as a blessing to us.”   Read: Nagarjuna on Phantom: The film has raised Indian cinema to a new level   The Phantom team, which had been camping in Hyderabad for the past few weeks to complete a schedule, wrapped up recently. The team is now headed to Kerala, where another major schedule is planned. After shooting in Kerala, the team will head to Bengaluru to shoot a song sequence. Kiccha Sudeep and director Anup Bhandari teamed up in their first outing together for Phantom. Manjunath Gowda, a close associate of Sudeep, is producing the film under his banner. While Sudeep plays the lead character Vikranth Rona, Nirup Bhandari will be seen as Sanjeev Gambhira and Neetha Ashok as Aparna Ballal aka Panna. Interestingly, Anup also has another film lined up with Sudeep. While Phantom is in the making, the duo has also worked together for the upcoming Billa Ranga Baashaa. While the shooting of Phantom is on, Sudeep’s fans are eagerly waiting for the release of Kotigobba 3. The film was wrapped up in March, but its release was postponed due to the pandemic and the ensuing lockdown. Arjun Janya composed the music for this venture, while Shekar Chandru handled the camera. Madonna Sebastian and Shraddha Das play the female leads in Kotigobba 3, with Bollywood actor Aftab Shivdasani in an important role. This film is produced by Surappa Babu under his banner. (Content provided by Digital Native)

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‘Consumed sleeping pills by mistake’: CM BSY’s aide Santosh on alleged suicide attempt

Politics

Santosh said that he was facing acidity after a wedding he attended and consumed the wrong medication.

IANS

Debunking reports of an attempted suicide, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa's aide NR Santhosh on Monday said that he "never attempted" suicide, but had consumed sleeping pills "by mistake" due to which he fell unconscious. He also said that Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee President DK Shivakumar has lost his "mental balance" after his past sins started tumbling out. On Friday, Santhosh was admitted to the hospital by his wife Jhanavi who had claimed that he had consumed nearly a dozen sleeping pills and attempted to commit suicide. On the same day, Chief Minister Yediyurappa, after visiting him in the hospital, too had said that "we don't know why he took such an extreme step, but anyways, he is out of danger now". Speaking to reporters after he was discharged from the hospital here, Santhosh said that on Friday he had attended a marriage ceremony and due to acidity, he took some medicines which happened to be the "wrong ones". "I do take sleeping tablets occasionally, that too half a tablet and not more than that," he said in response to a question. Countering the media, Santhosh said, "What is there for me to commit suicide? Why will I commit suicide?" Responding to a question, Santhosh said that if one chooses politics as his career, he or she will always be under tremendous pressure. "That cannot be the reason. In my case, it was never a reason. I am not the person who will try to commit suicide. I take everything as it comes to me," he said. When his attention was drawn towards Shivakumar's statement about demanding high-level probe into his suicide attempt, Santhosh said that Shivakumar seems to have lost 'mental balance' as his past sins are catching up with him. "He is often seen blabbering irrationally. I have sympathies for him and I request his party leaders to take him to the hospital as soon as possible," he said. After admitting Santosh to the hospital, his wife Jhanavi had claimed on Friday as well as on Saturday that her husband had consumed nearly a dozen sleeping pills and she had also said that theirs was a happy family. "He was under pressure due to the ongoing political crisis," she had said, but had refused to elaborate. Even the doctors who treated him had said that he had come to the hospital in a drowsy state and was being treated for it.

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Union govt must hold talks with protesting farmers: JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy

Politics

Kumaraswamy said that the government must try to calm the fear among farmers that the three new legislations could lead to removal of minimum price cap.

PTI

PTI/Representation Photo

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Monday asked the Union government to hold talks with protesting farmers at the borders of Delhi to remove misgivings they have on the new agri-marketing laws. "The FarmersProtest in Delhi against the Centre's new agricultural legislation has entered the fifth day. The Centre, which has stated that such laws have been brought in to help farmers, should immediately hold talks with protesters and make efforts to remove their suspicions," Kumaraswamy said in a tweet. He said the suspicion among farmers and people about the laws would continue to grow further if the government did not address their concerns. Kumaraswamy advised the government not to impose conditions for talks like asking the farmers to move to Burari Park for their demonstration. "My sincere suggestion is to hear the grievances of farmers at the place where they are presently located or at a place of their choice," he said in another tweet. Noting that the farmers' dharna at Singhu border in the harsh winter and prevalence of the coronavirus had entered the fifth day,he said it was not right to leave them in such an adverse condition, "in the interest of their health". "The Union government will be responsible if any of the protesters face health problems. In this context, it is better to hear their plea at the earliest," the JD(S) leader tweeted. The new farm bills, he said, were not in the interest of the agriculture sector and the people at large. Thousands of farmers are continuing their stir against the Centre's new farm laws at the Delhi-Haryana border for the fifth day today.

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‘Ours is Mahatma Gandhi's Hindutva’: Karnataka Cong chief DK Shivakumar

Politics

Shivakumar was responding to a question regarding the BJP’s government’s move to criminalise religious conversion for the sake of marriage.

PTI

Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee president D K Shivakumar on Monday said Hinduism is no one's property and the party believes in the Hindutva of Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda, and in protecting the interest of people belonging to all communities. DK Shivakumar's statement comes as speculation has been rife in the Congress that he has decided to embrace the Hindutva card to gather support for the party. However, it is not new for the Congress to adopt the soft Hindutva strategy for the purpose of gathering a vote bank.  "Ours is Mahatma Gandhi's Hindutva, Vivekananda's Hindutva...Hinduism is no one's property....India's tradition, culture is the wealth that belongs to all of us. We (Congress) will protect and safeguard the interest of everyone as said in our constitution," Shivakumar told reporters in response to a question about recent developments regarding inter-faith marriages and Hindutva politics. "Protecting the constitution is our commitment and our stand," he added. Shivakumar had convened a meeting of senior leaders of the party today on developments in the state and strengthening the Congress as an organisation. Shivakumar said booth and panchayat level committees will be formed in the coming days towards organising the party and to make Congress a cadre based party. The booth committees will be called "Praja Pratinidhi" and it will have representation from across sections of the society. "We will implement it during the upcoming gram panchayat elections itself," he said. The Karnataka State Election Commission on Monday announced polls to 5,762 gram panchayats in the state in two phases on December 22 and 27, and the model code of conduct has come into immediate effect. Welcoming the announcement of the polls, Shivakumar said "For the gram panchayat election we are forming nine teams.All our leaders will be part of it. However senior they (leaders) are, they will visit various parts of the state from district to assembly level. MLAs have been given responsibility of neighbouring constituencies," he said.  

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