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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
February 3,2020

Feb 3: The Karnataka government is probably the only state to have so many nodal agencies to deal with investment proposals. There is the KIADB, Karnataka Udyoga Mitra, State High Level Clearance Committee (SHLCC), State Level Single Window Clearance Committee (SLSWCC) and District Level Single Window Clearance Committee.

While the government claims these have been created to speed up the process of setting up industries, they’re only delaying it. “A four-to-five year delay in acquiring land has become the norm,’’ say industry sources.

“These entities are only adding layers of obstacles to investors and is not really helping industries,” said a senior IAS officer.

While DLSWCCs are headed by deputy commissioners are empowered to clear investment proposals up to Rs 15 crore, SLSWCC, headed by the industries minister, clears proposals more than Rs 15 crore and up to Rs 500 crore. Proposals worth more than Rs 500 crore have to be cleared by SHLCC chaired by the CM. These entities have to meet regularly and clear proposals. But often, these meetings don’t happen as scheduled. “The delay starts from here,” said Vasant Ladava, industrialist and member of Karnataka Industries and Commerce, Bengaluru.

The single-window agencies involving representatives of departments like industries, revenue, pollution control board and forest are supposed to collectively give necessary clearances required for industries. “But, of late, they have become only project approvers without other responsibilities, leaving investors in the lurch,” said Ladava.

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News Network
July 22,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 22: A total of 4,764 new COVID-19 cases and 55 deaths were reported in Karnataka in the last 24 hours.

Out of the new cases, 2,050 cases were reported in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

The total number of active cases stands at 47,069, said the state Health Department.

Death toll rises to 1,519 in the state.

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News Network
July 29,2020

Bengaluru Jul 29: There will be a centralised system in place in Karnataka to classify asymptomatic, symptomatic and mild symptomatic persons and recommend treatment based on the severity of the cases, said Medical Education Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Tuesday here.

"Various existing apps related to COVID-19 will be brought under one platform to get real-time information which will assist in strategising allocation of hospitals/beds to the needy. This will probably remove the delay in bed allocation and treatment which is being faced now. The patients will get all information in one phone call," Dr Sudhakar said.

Sudhakar spoke with a team of experts from the government and Infosys.

Referring to a company by name Step 1, which is providing such services in Delhi and Madhya Pradesh, the Minister said that a similar system will be implemented in the state as well.

"This company is having a team of doctors and nurses which is guiding the people whether they need hospital treatment or home isolation after they are tested positive for COVID-19. More than 70 per cent of the positive cases are being asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and are advised to go for home isolation," the minister said.

"The load on the hospitals is reduced and severe cases can be administered proper treatment. Infosys co-ordinates with the government to provide technical support for this system," Dr Sudhakar added.

Earlier during the day, the minister held a video conference with the heads of private medical colleges to review COVID preparedness.
The government has already passed guidelines to allocate 50 per cent of hospital beds for COVID patients.

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