KRRS threatens stir against UPCL

[email protected] (News Network)
May 5, 2012

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Udupi, May 5: Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) Udupi district president Vijay Kumar Hedge threatened to go on stern agitation if government fails to take action against coal based Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) thermal power plant within 45 days.

Speaking to media persons here on Friday, he said the report by expert committee appointed to go through the consequences of UPCL plant over environment, human beings and livestock in the surrounding areas has categorically stated that the thermal plant proves to be hazardous. The committee was initiated under the leadership of Pejawar mutt seer Sri Vishweshatheertha Swamiji. The plant at any cost is not suitable for this area and the report has called for immediate rectification. However, government is unwilling to take any measures against the thermal power plant. The cost of shifting the plant may not exceed Rs 80 to Rs 100 crores. This amount is too less comparing the huge loss that might incur in future owing to the functioning of the plant. It will be detrimental to the environment and people in the area, he added.

The government had dismissed two of the experts in the committee Dr Y B Ramakrishna and Dr T V Ramachandra for coming out with interim report before media. However, these two scientists continued working and were able to bring out the report independently as directed by Pejawar seer. Hegde said the Company who has taken all necessary measures to rectify the problems of fly ash and effluent water as claimed by environment department is far from truth. The Company has installed drift eliminator instead of desalinated plant. However, drift eliminator is introduced in the second unit and the first unit continues to be unsafe, he added.

Problems pertaining to fly ashes and effluent water have no permanent remedy. The ashes exhorted through chimneys will be forced into 2,000 feet height and will be dispersed into 40 to 50 kms radius in the surrounding area. It has already proved disastrous to the agriculture and horticulture growths and continues to be so.

Besides, the chemicals used for FGD and other sorts of petrochemical wastes will totally contaminate the ground water sources. Ashes will be washed off into River Shambavi during monsoon and the river water will be polluted. Marine resources in the sea has been already massively affected owing to the discharge of affluent water, he said and urged government to take action against the Company in the interest of the life of people residing in the areas. He also informed that Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Jayaprakash Hedge has assured to hold talks with District Commissioner over the issue within a week.


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News Network
July 27,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 27: Former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said that when COVID-19 has made life and livelihoods difficult, it is unfortunate that charges have been levelled of irregularities in the procurement of COVID-19 equipment.

"The Congress which has levelled charges against the ruling BJP has not so far filed a complaint with any investigating agency. Instead, the Congress has limited itself to getting publicity. On the other hand, the ruling BJP instead of coming clean by ordering a probe into the main charges is indirectly admitting the scam," Kumaraswamy said on Sunday.

"By washing dirty linen in public, both the Congress and the BJP are playing a cruel joke on people instead of protecting their lives," he said.

Hitting out at the BJP, he asked, "Why is it that the BJP is not ordering an investigation into the Rs 2,000 crore Covid 19 corruption charges levelled against the government by the Congress? Why is the government keeping quiet on the corruption charges?"

He said, "Is this the leadership provided by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa? There could be political pressure on seeking resignation of his Ministers. But why has no action been initiated against any officers? Is there any effort to destroy the evidence by retaining officers in their existing postings?"

"Hunger for publicity is evident when we look at the press conference by five Ministers at a time," he said.

The government has countered the charges of the Congress but backtracked on ordering an investigation, he said.

"Would this not give rise to suspicion that the government is involved in the scam?" he asked.

He also asked why Congress leaders have not filed a complaint before any investigating agency despite "possessing documents to prove the charges".

"Are the Congress leaders trying to get publicity or are they concerned about the welfare of the people? The Congress Legislative Party leader is seeking an account (Lekka Kodi) while the BJP president is seeking answers (Uttara Kodi). Is it enough to give such questions and answers?"

Is there a concrete legal plan to deal with the irregularities? he asked.

"Looking at the way the Congress leaders have addressed media conferences and taken to social media campaigns, it appears that they are trying to get publicity," he said.

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News Network
May 8,2020

Mangaluru, May 8: Twenty-two students of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV), Mudipu on the outskirts of Mangalur city, stranded in Uttara Pradesh due to lock-down reached the campus on Friday morning.

These Class 9 students (12 girls and 10 boys) had studied at JNV Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, as part of an exchange programme, 21 students of Amroha campus studied in Mudipu. 

While Amroha students could return after completing their studies, the Mudipu students were among many JNV students who were unable to return because of the lock-down.

JNV Mudipu Principal V Srinivasan said the 22 students, along with escorts, reached the campus at 7.15 a.m today.

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News Network
March 30,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 30: Coffee Day Enterprises Ltd (CDEL) has received the first tranche of Rs 2,000 crore following disinvestment of Global Village Techparks to repay debts following the death of its founder V G Siddhartha.
In August last year, CDEL executed definitive agreements with entities belonging to Blackstone Group and Salarpuria Sattva Group for investment in GV Techparks, a wholly-owned subsidiary of group company Tanglin Development Ltd (TDL), at an enterprise value of Rs 2,700 crore.
The balance amount is expected to be received after the receipt of few statutory approvals, CDEL said in a statement.
"Out of the money received in first tranche, the company has paid off its debts in full including principal and interest amounting to Rs 1,644 crore to the lenders despite difficult economic conditions," it said.
Post this payment, the consolidated debt of the company and its subsidiaries stands at Rs 3,200 crore as on March 27. This includes debt of Rs 1,400 crore of its subsidiary Sical Logistics Ltd where disinvestment process is in progress.
"The company and subsidiaries have repaid around Rs 4,000 crore to the lenders since the beginning of this financial year," CDEL said.
"With the continuous support of stakeholders of the company, the current management is working to ensure better liquidity and operational efficiency. The company is confident of the future ahead despite various challenges," it added.
The company has been in rough waters after its founder V G Siddhartha took his own life as debt strains began to emerge in his company. Since his death in July last year, CDEL has been trying to divest its assets to pare debts.
On July 30, 2019, CDEL informed stock exchanges about Siddhartha's disappearance. In a letter that was purportedly written by him, the Cafe Coffee Day founder said: "I could not take any more pressure from one of the private equity partners forcing me to buy back shares."

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