Won’t allow TN to use surplus Cauvery water: CM Yediyurappa

Cauvery dispute

Karnataka objected to the TN govt laying the foundation for the Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar river interlinking project.

IANS

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has said that his government will not allow Tamil Nadu to use surplus Cauvery water and will take strong measures to protect the state's interests. This after the Cauvery river water sharing dispute erupted again after the Tamil Nadu government on Sunday laid the foundation for the Rs 14,400 crore Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar (262-km) river interlinking project, which will divert 6,300 cubic feet of surplus water during floods and increase the groundwater levels in southern districts to meet drinking water needs. Yediyurappa on Monday told reporters that the state government has decided to file objections before the Union government against the project. "We will not allow it. We are taking strong measures. We will not allow Tamil Nadu or others to use surplus water," he said. After emerging out of the meeting with the state's legal team on the inter-state water dispute in Delhi, Karnataka Major and Medium Irrigation Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi said that the state will apprise the Central government over Tamil Nadu's river interlinking project. Jarkiholi, who met Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Monday, had said that the state will take all steps to protect its interests. "We will soon convene an all-party meeting to seek their opinion," he said. Karnataka is of the stand that after ensuring 177.25 tmc feet of water to Tamil Nadu in a normal year at Biligundlu water gauging centre, the rest belongs to the state, which includes its share of 284.75 tmc feet and surplus water available. Meanwhile, both opposition parties in Karnataka - Congress and JD(S) - too opposed Tamil Nadu's move to divert the surplus water. Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah terming Tamil Nadu's move to take up the river interlinking project as 'illegal'. "The Chief Minister of that state should stop it immediately," he said on Twitter. In a tweet, Siddarmaiah also asked the Karnataka Chief Minister to question the project in the Supreme Court, and write to his Tamil Nadu counterpart asking him to drop the project. In a series of tweets, another former Chief Minister and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy expressed surprise over the project of this magnitude not coming to the notice of the Karnataka government. He also alleged that the Union government was funding this project. Pointing out at the Tamil Nadu government's objections to the state's Mekedatu project, Kumarswamy said Tamil Nadu had been objecting to this as it will not get surplus water if the dam comes up. "We will not allow even a drop of surplus water being used by them," he said.

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Bengaluru: Fresh COVID-19 cluster detected in apartment complex with 10 cases

COVID-19

Six blocks of an apartment complex in Bellandur have been declared a containment zone by BBMP.

TNM Staff

Representational image

In less than 10 days, another COVID-19 cluster was detected in Bengaluru with 10 cases being reported from an apartment complex, Bruhat Bengaluru Mahangara Palike Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said on Monday. According to a statement, the cases were reported from an apartment complex in Bellandur of Mahadevapura Zone. This apartment complex comprises nine blocks housing 1,500 people. Based on the findings, six blocks of the apartment have been declared a containment zone by the Bengaluru civic body, while other three blocks are 200 metres away and have not reported any case among their residents. "These 10 cases came to light between February 15 and 22. Nine mobile teams were deployed, 500 RT-PCR samples taken and results are expected by Tuesday," Prasad said in the statement. He added that the sanitisation has been carried out in the apartment premises and a health team with four doctors has been deployed. On February 13, the first cluster was found at Manjushree Nursing College near Kaval Byrasandra in the city, where 42 students of 210 students tested positive. Most of them are from Kerala. On February 15, another cluster was found as 104 residents of an apartment complex in Bommanahalli, tested positive, with 96 of them above the age of 60 years. The apartments house 1,052 people. As reported by TNM, Karnataka reintroduced stricter measures of COVID-19 management on February 16 in the wake of a sudden rise in cases including these two clusters. The rules also said that if a cluster of five or more people are identified in places such as hostels and educational institutions, those places will be declared ‘contamination zones’ and additional steps, such as retesting after seven days, will be taken. Along with those rules, it was also mandated that all those arriving in the state from Kerala including those checking into hotels, resorts, hostels, home stays, and dormitories will have to compulsorily produce a negative RT-PCR certificate that is not older than 72 hours. Read: Karnataka govt issues fresh containment zone rules

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Johnson & Johnson says it can provide 20M vaccine doses by late March

The company has applied to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency authorization.

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U.S. surpasses 500,000 Covid deaths

Biden, soon after being sworn in, predicted the nation would hit half a million deaths by the end of February while warning his administration would be unable to dramatically increase the pace of vaccinations.

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Becerra to highlight family's health struggles at confirmation hearing

He will recall his mother's life-threatening hemorrhaging during a miscarriage when he was a child during testimony Tuesday.

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Will set up e-vehicle charging points in metros, malls, apartments: Karnataka Dy CM

Sustainability

The Deputy Chief Minister was speaking virtually at the Harvard-India Conference.

TNM Staff

Twitter

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister Dr CN Ashwath Narayanan said on Monday that in the next 2-3 years, the state government is aiming to replace 50% of government vehicles with electric vehicles. Dr Narayanan added that to boost sustainable mobility, the state would also take regulatory measures to set up charging infrastructure in high-rise buildings, metro stations, malls, IT parks, and apartments, as well as along some important highways in the state such as the Bengaluru-Chennai, Bengaluru-Myrsuru highways. The Deputy CM was speaking on “future of sustainable mobility” at the Harvard-India Conference virtually, when he made these statements. He added that the state would also establish a “world-class Karnataka Electric Mobility Research & Innovation Centre.” “The lack of charging infrastructure still remains as a major concern and the state is working towards improving the situation. The government also has assessed the situation and has received feedback from citizens regarding discounted charging at public places, dedicated parking for e-cabs, and mandating electric vehicle (EV) charging facility in building bye-laws to improve the EV infra in the state,” Dr Narayanan said. According to a press note shared by the Deputy CM’s office, Karnataka is planning a policy framework to be able to garner 50% market share of ‘digital engineering innovation economy segments’ like clean tech, electric vehicles, aerospace, medical tech, construction etc. as they offer significant opportunities for growth, Narayanan said. Presently, the state has been able to garner a share of more than 30% market size, the minister added. Dr Narayanan tweeted about the same, and said, “Spoke about how Karnataka has been pioneering the Clean Tech space in India. We were the first state to launch the EV & Energy Storage Policy to boost the entire EV ecosystem.” Being home to many emerging startups & thriving R&D firms in the sector, we are working tirelessly to ensure easy access to charging infrastructure for our citizens. Our Govt's commitment to renewable energy for a sustainable future remains unshaken.https://t.co/vfUdci1Bjo 2/2 — Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N. (@drashwathcn) February 22, 2021 Apart from Dr Narayanan, Anita George, Executive Vice-President, and Deputy Head, CDPQ Global, and Vignesh Nandakumar, a clean tech investor were the other two panellists on the discussion. 

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Supreme Court to review Trump curbs on abortion clinics, immigrant benefits

The court will take up the abortion "gag rule" and public charge policies, both of which Biden is expected to reverse.

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