Don’t spoil health of coastal Karnataka people by expanding Kaiga plant: Seer tells PM Modi

Agencies
October 4, 2019

Sirsi, Oct 4: Gangadharendra Saraswati swamiji of Swarnavalli Mutt has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking him to drop the proposed expansion of Kaiga atomic power plant and thereby prevent spread of deceases in coastal Karnataka.

Kaiga Generating Station is a nuclear power generating station situated at Kaiga, near the river Kali, in coastal district of Uttar Kannada. The plant has been in operation since March 2000 and is operated by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India.

In his letter, the seer, also the honorary president of Bedti-Aghanashini Valley Conservation Committee, stated: It is shocking to know that the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, and the National Wildlife Board have given their approval for adding units 5 and 6 to the Kaiga plant. The Centre should annul the approvals.

Many experts, in their reports over the years, have expressed grave concern about the deterioration of health of locals in the vicinity of Kaiga atomic power plant. Cancer incidence in the region is high. The Kaiga units utilise Kali river water and discharge the water with high amounts of harmful radiation into the river. The river which drains into the Arabian Sea, carries a large amount of radiation into the sea. The radiation enters the body of fish, prawns and other marine life, the seer stated.

The seer added: "Kaiga plant is located in the Western Ghats, a treasure trove of flora and fauna. Even the Centre has declared the region as eco-sensitive area. Establishing an atomic power plant in the Western Ghats is not right. And the expansion of the plant is an even bigger sin."

There are seven major dams in the Kali river valley. Major landslides or earthquakes in Kadra-Kaiga region would spell doom for life and property, he expressed concern and urged the Centre to drop the expansion plans.

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News Network
June 25,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 25: Former Karnataka chief minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy on Wednesday claimed that there are shortage of beds and ventilators to treat COVID-19 patients in the state.

In a series of tweets, he targetted the Karnataka government on COVID-19 management.

"The state government has failed to provide adequate treatment to those infected with corona. There are no beds and no ventilators to treat more than four thousand patients. Self-induced lockdown is the only solution," he tweeted.

In his subsequent tweet, he said, "Residents of the state, including Bangalore, now have only one way to escape from COVID-19. Stay at home and celebrate yourself as a self-proclaimed lockdown. Money is not more important than life. Your life is in your hands now."

In another tweet, former Chief Minister alleged that the government has fixed Rs 10-15,000 per day for COVID-19 treatment in private hospitals.

"The state government is also saying this indirectly. The 'home remedy' in the home is to stay at home and be safe. The government has fixed Rs 10-15,000 per day for the treatment of this infection in private hospitals. How poor can afford it while upper class can't afford," he tweeted.

"If four members of a family infected with corona, the cost of treatment for a 15-day treatment at a private hospital is Rs 5-6 lakh. Where do the poor bring that Much money? We must save our lives while the government is sitting incapable. This is my concern for the people of the state," he said in another tweet.

In a video message that HD Kumaraswamy demanded the state government to give all kinds of safety and security to the students who are writing the SSLC exam tomorrow.
HD Kumaraswamy also urged students to be careful.

About 8,48,203 students will appear in the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination tomorrow, said Karnataka Health Minister B Sriramulu on Wednesday.

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News Network
January 4,2020

Udupi, Jan 4: A 37-year-old Udupi district JD(S) spokesperson allegedly committed suicide at his residence here last night, police said on Saturday.

It identified the deceased as Pradeep G Bailoor (37).

He was working as the District JD(S) spokesperson for many years.

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Agencies
February 4,2020

Lucknow, Feb 4: Even as anti-NRC protests continue to rage across the country, the Lucknow University has queered the pitch by demanding citizenship proof from RTI applicants.

The Lucknow University (LU) refused to provide the information sought by the people who filed the Right to Information (RTI) unless they furnished the proof that they were Indian citizens.

Alok Chantia, one of the RTI applicants who was refused information by the varsity, said that he had lodged a complaint with the vice-chancellor of the varsity but even then he could not get the desired information.

"It is shocking how the university has twisted the RTI law as per its whims and fancy. It does not have any authority to do so," said the RTI applicant.

Chantia, also a faculty member at a degree college here, had sought details of appointment of teachers for self-financed courses and their pay scale.

"It is possible that some applicants who may not be familiar with the provisions of the RTI, may have furnished proof of their citizenship to the varsity to get the information but that cannot become a rule," he pointed out.

When contacted, university officials admitted that such a practice had been going on in the varsity for the past few years.

"This practice started during the tenure of the former vice-chancellor S.P. Singh and still continues," said a senior varsity official.

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