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Lokayukta complaint against CM?over appointment of KSPCB?chief

[email protected] (Agencies)
May 6, 2016

Bengaluru, May 6: A complaint has been filed with the Lokayukta against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah over the appointment of real estate businessman Lakshmana as the chairperson of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB).

siddaT Narasimha Murthy, the complainant, said that the appointment was in violation of the provisions under The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act and that it was the chief minister who chose Lakshmana, though it was not recommended by the search committee.

The complaint said that Lakshmana is a civil engineer and has no past experience relating to environment protection.

The process to choose the chairperson for the KSPCB started in August 2015 when Madan Gopal, the then Additional Chief Secretary Forest, Ecology and Environment Department, recommended the constitution of the search committee headed by the then Chief Secretary Kaushik Mukherjee.

Other members of the committee constituted were Prof Ravindranath of IISc and Capt Raja Rao, former member of KSPCB and Madan Gopal (member-secretary). The committee shortlisted five names among those who applied for the post. The names were Prof E T Puttaiah, G T Chandrashekharappa, Dr J R Mudkavi, Dr B S Jai Prakash and Prof B B Hosetti.

“As per the documents, the list finalised by the search committee did not have the name of Lakshmana till December 12, 2015. However, on December 10, Minister for Forests, Ecology and Environment Ramanath Rai inserted the name of Lakshmana stating “done as per the discussion with the chief minister,” the complainant said.

Less than 10 days after inserting Lakshmana's name, the chief minister passed an order recommending the appointment.

Required qualifications

The qualifications and experience prescribed for the post are: Masters degree in science or equivalent B Tech in discipline relating to environment, 10 years experience in government departments, institutions, central public sector undertakings, universities, recognised research institutions, autonomous or semi-government or statutory organisations or NGOs at managerial levels, with practical experience in matters relating to environmental protection.

The complaint said that Lakshmana is a civil engineer with no experience in environmental protection.

Narasimha Murthy submitted the complaint to Upalokayukta Justice N Ananda. The complaint has been filed against Siddaramaiah, Minister Ramanath Rai, Chief Secretary Aravind Jadhav, Madan Gopal and Lakshmana.

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coastaldigest.com news network
July 31,2020

Mangaluru, July 31: Coronavirus related deaths in Dakshina Kannada continued to surge, with the district administration recording five more fatalities in a day, thus taking the tally to 155.

The district has recorded multiple deaths every day from July 1 to 31. A majority of the deaths are due to comorbid conditions.

Among the five deaths reported today, a 47-year-old man from Mangaluru, was admitted to private hospital on July 30, and breathed his last on the same day. He was suffering from ARDS, Type 1 respiratory failure, COPD, Type II DM, HTN and died due to cardiac arrest.

Another patient was a 75-year-old man from Bantwal, who was admitted to a private hospital on July 23, and passed away on July 30. He was suffering from acute coronary syndrome, pneumonia (ARDS), metabolic encephalopathy, acute kidney injury, systemic hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The third patient was a 63-year-old man from Mangaluru, who was admitted to a private hospital on July 18, and passed away on July 30. He was suffering from ARDS, septic shock, renal failure, and secondary bacterial infection.

The fourth patient was an 88-year-old woman from Davanagere, who was admitted to a private hospital on July 9, and passed away on July 30. She was suffering from septic shock, and secondary bacterial infection.

The fifth patient was a 75-year-old man from Mangaluru. He was admitted to Wenlock hospital on July 15, and passed away on July 30. He was suffering from refractory ARDS, septic shock, renal failure, acute coronary event, arrhythmias, pulmonary thromboembolism, and hemoperitoneum.

The district administration said that though the above patients contracted coronavirus, the exact cause of their deaths is being investigated by a team of experts and their report is awaited.

On the other hand, Dakshina Kannada district recorded a total of 204 fresh cases, taking the tally to 5,713. Among the 204 new cases are 75 primary contacts, 63 with influenza-like illness (ILI), and 14 with severe acute respiratory illness (SARI). As many as 52 cases are under investigation. As many as 70 patients were discharged on Friday from Wenlock as well as private hospitals.

As per the district health bulletin, a total of 40,706 samples have been tested so far and 34,993 out of them have tested negative. Among the 5,713 positive cases reported in the district, only 2,929 are currently active. As many as 2,631 persons have recovered and been discharged.

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News Network
July 2,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 2: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Thursday accused BS Yediyurappa-led state government of "failure" to protect the citizens from coronavirus, stating that Karnataka was suffering due to lack of co-ordination in the cabinet.

In a series of tweets, the JD(S) leader slammed the state government for wasting their time in giving out contradictory statements regarding COVID-19 figures instead of learning lessons from the Kerala government.

"It is shocking to see COVID-19 patients being turned down by the hospitals due to lack of beds. The government has failed in its duty to protect the citizens. The CM and his cabinet colleagues wasted precious time in mere talking for the last three months. As the escalated Covid numbers stare them in the face, they are now helpless," Kumaraswamy wrote.

"Even when you have a proven model in Kerala government's success in Covid management, the ministers waste time in issuing contradictory statements and doing nothing. Karnataka suffers due to lack of co-ordination in the cabinet," he said.

Urging the government to act together, he said that if the government does not get its act together, the day is not far when Covid patients would be "condemned to die on the streets."

We are already seeing heart-wrenching stories of patients denied treatment," he added.

Kumaraswamy also appealed to the Karnataka government to consider the suggestions he had made earlier and not to indulge in party politics in these testing times.

"I appeal to the government to consider the suggestions I made earlier and act accordingly. This is not the time for party politics."

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coastaldigest.com news network
July 26,2020

Mangaluru, Jul 26: Rubbishing reports about cancellation of institutional quarantine for international passengers in Mangaluru, local health authorities have clarified that 14 day isolation including first seven day institutional quarantine must for international passengers. 

For past couple of days rumours were doing rounds on social media that the government has done away with quarantine for international passengers. A few Mangaluru-based news portals also had published it as news without quoting any reliable sources. 

Meanwhile, district health officer in his clarification message said that neither Karnataka government nor Dakshina Kannada district administrant has revised the quarantine norms for international passengers. 

“Those who arrive from overseas must remain in isolation for 14 days. Out of this, seven days have to be spent in institutional quarantine (in hotel or lodge). During this period, the throat swab sample of the person will be sent for covid-19 testing. If the report is negative, then they will be sent to home quarantine for another seven days."

He said that concession in terms of number of days has only been given for people with other health conditions, children and the elderly. "For children below 10 years, pregnant women, elderly above the age of 60 years and other with other ailments, the throat swab will be collected on the second day of institutional quarantine. If the report turns negative, they will be sent to home quarantine for 14 days."

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