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
February 16,2020

Mangaluru, Feb 16: Leaving spectators awestruck, Karnataka's Srinivasa Gowda ran 142.5 meters in 13.62 seconds at traditional buffalo race Kambala, following which people started comparing him to former Jamaican Sprinter Usain Bolt.

Gowda, who is from Mudbidri town, accomplished the feat during a Kambala race in a paddy field in Kadri on February 1.

"People are comparing me to Usain Bolt. He is a world champion, I am only running in a slushy paddy field," said Srinivasa Gowda.

People took to social media and drew a parallel between him and Bolt. Twitterati hailed Gowda and his accomplishment on the muddy grounds.

Kambala is an annual buffalo race held in the southwestern state of Karnataka.

Traditionally, it is sponsored by local Tuluva landlords and households in the coastal districts of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi.

"I'll call Karnataka's Srinivasa Gowda for trials by top SAI Coaches. There's lack of knowledge in masses about the standards of Olympics especially in athletics where ultimate human strength & endurance are surpassed. I'll ensure that no talents in India is left out untested," Union Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju tweeted on Saturday.

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News Network
May 2,2020

Bengaluru, May 2: The Centre’s classification of districts created confusion in Karnataka as the state’s own categorisation deviates significantly from the health ministry’s list.

For instance, the Centre put the number of districts in the red zone in state at three, while the state Covid-19 war room puts it at 14. Bengaluru Urban and Mysuru figure in the red zone in both lists. While Bengaluru Rural with zero active cases on May 1makes it to the Centre’s red-zone list, it is in the orange zone according to the state.

In addition to these two, the state classifies Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Mandya, Bidar, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkaballapura, Dharwad, Gadag, Tumakuru and Davanagere as red-zone districts.

State Covid war-room authorities said they would take a look at the Centre’s criteria for classification and take a call. Besides, incharge Munish Mudgil pointed out that states are allowed to make additions to the red and orange zones. According to the Centre’s list, Karnataka has 13 districts in the orange zone and 14 in the green zone.

Sudan said, “the districts were earlier designated as hotspots or red zones, orange zones and green zones primarily based on the cumulative cases reported and the doubling rate. Since recovery rates have gone up, the districts are now being designated across various zones duly broad-basing the criteria.

This classification takes into consideration incidence of cases, doubling rate, extent of testing and surveillance feedback. A district will be considered under the green zone if there are no confirmed cases so far or if there is no reported case in the past 21 days.”

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coastaldigest.com news network
May 21,2020

Mangaluru, May 21: The third repatriation flight from Dubai to Mangaluru will operate on Saturday, May 23, confirmed union minister D V Sadananda Gowda. This will operate via Bengaluru.

The first and second direct repatriation flights from Dubai had landed at Mangaluru International Airport on May 12 and May 18. There were more than 175 passengers on board each of these flights.

On May 23, Air India flight (IX 0384) will take off at Dubai at 4:30 p.m. and land at Bengaluru at 9:50 p.m. It will again take off at 10:50 p.m. and land at Mangaluru at 11:45 p.m.

However, ministry of civil aviation sources said that no final decision has been taken about carrying passengers by these flights to Mangaluru.

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