Karnataka govt accused of violating norms while giving nod for Yettinahole

coastaldigest.com news network
July 25, 2017

Mangaluru, Jul 25: Green activist K N Somashekar has accused the Karnataka government of violating all norms while granting permission to Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Project near Sakleshpur in Hassan district.

The principal bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), chaired by Abdul Raheem, started the final hearing of a batch of petitions opposing the controversial project.

Mr Somashekar challenged the forest clearances granted by the ministry of forests and environment for the project. He raised the alleged violation of the National Forest Policy and a deliberate attempt by the officials concerned not to go for a cost benefit analysis, when the matter came up for hearing on Monday in New Delhi.

The Yettinahole project is intended to supply water to parched areas of Tumakuru, Kolar, Ramanagar, and Chikkaballapur districts, among others in the east side of the state by diverting water from west-flowing streams in Sakleshpur of Hassan.

The project has been given forest clearance in violation of the Forest Conservation Act, claimed Somashekar. His contention is that forest clearance was accorded by the Regional Empowered Committee (REC) of the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MoEF) going against the National Forest Policy as the officials did not explore alternatives before granting clearance.

He argued that the REC had committed a blunder in giving clearance when any clearance for projects above five hectares in forest areas should be granted only by the Forest Advisory Committee of the Union government. Later, petitioner Somashekar told DC that though forest officials claim that permission to fell trees has been given only in 13.94 hectares of forest land in Sakleshpur, if surveyed properly, the forest land for the project would exceed this figure several times.

He asserted that the Cost Benefit Analysis which is mandatory for the project was not done by Visvesvaraya Jala Nigam Limited. The NGT has posted the hearing to Tuesday.

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News Network
May 19,2024

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In a heart-wrenching turn of events, the serene town of Banavasi in Sirsi taluk of Karnataka’s Uttara Kananda district, was struck by tragedy. A young boy lost his life after being struck by lightning on a fateful Saturday evening around 4p.m.

The victim, identified as 16-year-old Sajid Ashfaque Ali, was a bright tenth-grade student at Eden Way High School. Full of dreams and youthful energy, Sajid was enjoying an innocent game with his friends on the Jayanthi High School grounds when the unthinkable happened.

As ominous clouds gathered and rain began to pour, an unexpected bolt of lightning pierced the sky, striking Sajid. His friends watched in horror as he collapsed. Despite the desperate rush to get him to the hospital, Sajid's injuries proved fatal, and he passed away, leaving his family and community in shock and grief.

The rain that had started earlier that afternoon became a backdrop to this devastating incident, casting a pall over the Banavasi police station limits. Sajid’s body has been taken to the government hospital for a post-mortem examination, as the community grapples with the sudden and tragic loss of such a young life.

The tragic death of Sajid Ashfaque Ali is a poignant reminder of the unpredictability of nature and the fragile thread of life. His memory will linger in the hearts of those who knew and loved him, a young life taken too soon.

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News Network
May 10,2024

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Madikeri: A 15-year-old was bludgeoned to death and the accused fled with her severed head at Mutlu village in Somwarpet of Kodagu district on Thursday late night, hours after her SSLC examination result was declared.  

The victim has been identified as US Meena, a 10th grade student of Surlabbi High School. She had passed the SSLC examination and her school attained 100% results. 

However, she was brutally murdered by accused Prakash (32), a resident of the village. The police have launched a search operation to find the suspect, said Kodagu SP K Ramarajan 

It is said that the minor girl's engagement with the suspect was thwarted by officials from Women and Child Development department on May 9, and later officials had even convinced her parents of not to marry the minor girl.

However, the suspect barged into her house in the night and allegedly kidnapped her. Later, he took her to an area near the periphery of the forest and murdered her after which he fled with her severed head.

Victim's mother too has suffered injuries and is admitted to a hospital for treatment. The reason for the murder will be known after the probing officials have inquired the victim's mother, said the SP. 

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News Network
May 11,2024

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Madikeri, May 11: Kodagu police have apprehended the man allegedly responsible for the brutal murder of a minor girl within the confines of Kumbaragadige village in Karnataka's Somwarpet taluk. 

Kodagu Superintendent of Police, K Ramarajan, disclosed that the arrested individual is Prakash (32) from Hammiyala village in Somwarpet taluk. However, authorities are still in the process of recovering the severed head of the victim. The perpetrator had absconded with the victim's severed head after committing the crime. 

Search operations for the suspect commenced late on Thursday night (May 9), with officials diligently pursuing leads. Acting on information suggesting the suspect's presence in a forested area near the village, the police swiftly moved in and apprehended him.

The victim US Meena, 15, a student of Surlabbi High School, had passed the SSLC examinations, the results of which were announced on May. One same day, she was murdered. 

Reportedly, the engagement of the minor girl with the suspect was thwarted by officials from the Women and Child Development department. Subsequently, officials persuaded the girl's parents against proceeding with the marriage. 

However, despite these interventions, the suspect forcibly entered her residence during the night, purportedly abducted her, and later perpetrated the heinous crime in a wooded area on the outskirts of the forest, before absconding with her severed head.

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