UPCL questioned on storage of fly ash

[email protected] (The Hindu)
March 8, 2011

upcl

Bangalore, March 8: Karnataka State Pollution Control Board has directed Udupi Power Corporation Limited to submit an action plan on how they propose to dispose of large quantities of fly ash that is being stored at their storage unit in Udupi.

Following complaints, and after inspections by its regional office, the KSPCB had issued a notice summoning UPCL officials to Bangalore. Farmer groups from Santhur village and the Mudrangady gram panchayat had filed complaints against the company, and had threatened to launch an agitation. They claimed that fly ash from the ash pond of the coal-based thermal plant was posing environmental and health hazards. Further, they also said that their crops were being impacted by pollution.

There was a plan to set up a cement unit with ACC Cements, which did not materialise, the KSPCB Chairman A.S. Sadashivaiah said. They have also been directed to set up an ambient air quality monitoring unit near the fly ash pond so the air pollution can be constantly monitored and records can be maintained.

“We will be strictly monitoring all the action that they will be taking. We are taking it up seriously, which is why we immediately issued the notice.”

He added that until they are able to make requisite arrangements from proportionate utilisation of fly ash, the permits for operation of the second phase will not be granted.

Speaking to media, a top KSPCB official said that the UPCL was storing no less than 25,000 tonnes of fly ash at its storage facility. “This is way above how much a storage unit can handle. Though they may be storing it in slurry form, the fact that they are not utilising 50 per cent of what they are producing (as is mandated) is in itself an issue,” the official said. The official added that only 200 tonnes is being pushed out for cement production in Chickballapur.


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News Network
April 8,2020

Bengaluru, Apr 8: In a strong show of support, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa stood behind the minorities in the state and said no one should target the Muslim community over the coronavirus crisis and the Tablighi Jamaat.

He said those communalising the issue will be dealt with strictly.

BS Yediyurappa was speaking to a regional media channel when he said "Nobody should speak a word against Muslims. This is a warning. If anyone blames the entire Muslim community for some isolated incident, I'll take action against them also without a second thought. Will not allow that to happen."

Since then, many have welcomed the CM's remarks including the opposition.

Former Karnataka Congress president Dinesh Gundu Rao tweeted and said that other BJP leaders should follow the Karnataka CM and that it's a welcome step.

Congress president DK Shivakumar too said he agrees with the chief minister and that no one should target one community. "The CM should also act strictly against people posting communal remarks on social media and issue an order."

Earlier, Karnataka CM BS Yediyurappa held a meeting with minority opposition MLAs and MLCs and urged them to pass the message within the community asking those who had attended the Delhi Nizamuddin Markaz event to come and get tested for Covid-19.

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News Network
May 22,2020

Bengaluru, May 22: Karnataka government on Thursday said that there will be no inter-district check-posts for health screening in the State.

"There will be no inter-district check-posts for health screening in the State. Any health screening for passengers travelling by public transport -- buses and trains -- will be done at the origin of the journey and all those passengers found asymptomatic will be allowed to travel," reads the statement issued by the Commissionerate of Health and Family Welfare Services.

It further reads: "The agencies running public transport (KSRTC and others, Indian Railways, private bus operators) should ensure health screening of passengers before the start of the journey. There will be no health screening of passengers travelling by private vehicles across districts in Karnataka." 

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News Network
June 18,2020

Bengaluru, Jun 18: Two employees at a plant of Toyota Kirloskar Motor in Karnataka's Bidadi have tested positive for COVID-19, the automobile company said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the auto major, the two employees had attended work on June 7 and 16 respectively.

"As a first step and through appropriate contact tracing, TKM has started identifying all those employees who may have had primary or secondary contact with the infected employees for necessary treatment and quarantine wherever necessary and is in contact with the local government authorities," the statement said.

Toyota Kirloskar Motors had restarted operations after weeks of nationwide lockdown to prevent the spread of coronavirus on May 26. It said that all necessary precautions were to maintain social distancing and all Central and state government directives were being followed.

"However, despite all such measures, two employees at TKM's Bidadi plant tested positive for COVID-19 on June 16th, 2020. Operations at TKM plant has already been temporarily suspended so that required disinfection can be carried out at the plant," the statement said.

"TKM has extended all necessary support to the infected employees for medical treatment as well as quarantine procedures. The company is in touch with the families of the infected employees so as to support them to handle this situation carefully without further complications," it added.

 

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