Pejavar seer announces 'fasting protest' against UPCL; Scribes' tempo meets with accident

[email protected] (CD Network)
March 15, 2011
Udupi, March15: Pejawar Mutt pontiff Sri Vishesha Theertha Swamiji has demanded the UPCL to stop the production of power, affecting health and environment, till the life of the people affected by the same is set right.

Swamiji has also announced to observe one meal a day fasting, to show his concern for the affected people and share their sufferings, from Saturday.

He was speaking at the interaction programme between the environmental experts, activists, journalists and the representatives of UPCL, held at Srikrishna Balaniketana, Kukkikatte, near here on Tuesday evening.

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It is to be noted here that ill effects of the coal based power plant had resulted in water in the local wells turning saline, due to the discharge of water, released after cooling the boilers. In addition to that the bottom ash stored in a natural lake turned open ash pond, has been creating havoc in the life of the families residing in the area.

Speaking at the interaction programme environmentalist Ashok Kundapur took the UPCL to task for not feeling sorry in spite of causing health and environmental hazards and not rectifying the same to safeguard the interests of the people.

Environment expert Dr NA Madhyastha warned that abuse of nature would be retracted immediately, as it happened on Japan. He said that as the area beneath the Western Ghats, is very sensitive, abuse of fertile area in and around project site would surely result in disaster of some sort.

On the occasion, Jayakrishna Shetty of Jayashreekrishna Parisara Samithi confessed to have worked as the agent of Nagarjuna and Lanco, but took the present UPCL management to task for their gross negligence affecting the people. “It is fit case for filing an FIR against UPCL. It should be kicked out from the district”, Shetty added.

Activist Vidya Dinkar objected to UPCL producing power without a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) approved by the KERC. “They are selling the power in black to the Karnataka government. State government and the District-in-charge Minister Dr VS Acharya may in collusion with the company'', she accused. Vidya also demanded the company to make public the Environment Impact Assessment Report.

Replying to the queries Vice President (Operations) of UPCL Kishore Alva and its COO Raveendran agreed to have caused some nuisance and said that everything had been set right a week back.

Accident

As per the decision of the meeting all the members decided to visit the project site immediately to have a first hand report of the situation in the site. Although Pejawar Swamiji reached the ash pond site, the programme got cancelled as two of the tempo travelers, in which journalists were visiting the site, met with an accident by colliding each other. In the incident, environmentalist Ashok Kundapur and some of the journalists and cameramen got hurt. After the incident Swamiji, Kishore Alva and others returned from the site postponing the visit to Wednesday.


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News Network
February 12,2020

New Delhi, Feb 12: Buoyed by the Aam Aadmi Party's stellar performance in the Delhi Assembly elections, the Maharashtra unit of the party has decided to fight all forthcoming local elections, including the Mumbai elections.

The AAP’s Bengaluru unit will also contest the municipal corporation polls likely to take place in August or September.

AAP National Executive Member Preeti Sharma Menon said the party will try to “replicate the Delhi model of pragmatism, performance, and people centric policies”.

“We are sure that Maharashtra will shower us with the same faith and love as Delhi has done so,” she said.

The party has decided to field candidates in all the 198 wards of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).

"We have been planning to contest the BBMP election when we received a major shot in the arm. The Delhi victory happened because of the good work, which we want to replicate here," AAP's co-convener in Karnataka and party's BBMP campaign in charge Shanthala Damle told PTI on Tuesday.

Born out of an anti-corruption movement, the AAP led by Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal registered the second landslide victory by winning 63 out of 70 seats in the Delhi Assembly elections.

According to Damle, AAP in Bengaluru was working in full swing to make its presence felt in the city. "The party has already done its ground workin terms of election campaign and reaching out to the people in Bengaluru," she added.

According to her, the party has already opened around 10 offices and about 50 people have been announced as the assembly president or ward president.

Last month, the party launched a 40-minute movie called 'Hosa Bengaluru' (New Bengaluru) and conducted 50 shows already.

"It shows the Delhi model and explains what can be done in Bengaluru. So that is part of our vision," the AAP leader said.

In its next level of the campaign, AAP intends to conduct 'Jana Samvada' (Dialogue with people) in every street and in every ward.

The preparedness of the party can be gauged from the fact that it has identified many of its candidates for the BBMP elections.

The party has never tasted success in Karnataka anywhere but the Delhi's success story has kindled a new hope as many people would now be waiting to join the AAP, Damle said. The AAP cadres in Bengaluru burst into celebration soon after it became clear that the party was going to script history by forming government for the third consecutive time since its inception.

Sporting their signature caps, party workers lit crackers, danced on the Delhi election song 'Lage Raho Kejriwal'.

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News Network
May 22,2020

Bengaluru, May 22: Amid the fourth phase of nationwide COVID-19 lockdown, inter-state travel from Karnataka is now permitted with the consent of the receiving state, informed Praveen Sood, Karnataka Director General of Police (DGP) and Inspector General (IG).

"Inter-state pass is not required to go out of Karnataka as long as you have the consent of the receiving state," he said.

The order follows MHA's recent announcement of relaxed guidelines amid the nationwide lockdown.

"Due to lockdown, migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons are stranded at different places. They would be allowed to move as under," read the new guidelines while asking states to designate nodal authorities to facilitate the interstate movement.

The Centre has extended the lockdown till May 31 across the country.

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News Network
May 23,2020

Bengaluru, May 22: Police commissioner Bhaskar Rao on Friday said the next two Sundays will be ‘full curfew days’ and the city will be under complete lockdown between 7pm Saturday and 7am Monday.

Addressing the media, the top cop said all essential services will be excluded from the curfew. “People attending weddings and other ceremonies can travel. Those wanting to buy food products or medicines too can step out. However, like in lockdown 1.0, people found loitering unnecessarily will be punished,” he said.

According to Rao, city roads will be barricaded like how it was done during lockdown 1.0 and 2.0.

A senior police officer told TOI that during this period, vehicles could be seized under the Disaster Management Act-2005. “So, we request the public not to come out unnecessarily. If we find people roaming in vehicles, we shall seize the rides and owners will have to approach the court later to get them released,” he said.

The government has extended the lockdown till May 31, which includes two Sundays.
Earlier in the day, the state government allowed inter-state travel from Karnataka with the consent of the receiving state. Praveen Sood, Karnataka DG and IGP, said, “Inter-state pass is not required to go out of Karnataka as long as you have the consent of the receiving state. Due to the lockdown, migrant workers, pilgrims, tourists, students and other persons are stranded at different places. They would be allowed to move as usual.”

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