HC issues notice to state govt over Cauvery aarti near KRS reservoir
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court on Friday issued a notice to the state government in response to a petition challenging the proposed Cauvery Aarti near the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir, raising alarms over potential ecological and safety hazards. A division bench led by Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi passed the order after considering preliminary arguments from Advocate Rajanna R, who appeared on behalf of the petitioner Sunanda Jayaram. The bench has directed all respondents to submit their replies within two weeks.
The petition contests the Water Resources Department's plan to hold a Cauvery Aarti event, modelled on the Ganga Aarti, for which the state has reportedly approved a budget of Rs 92.30 crore.
The government aims to launch the event by Dasara and is planning a facility to accommodate around 10,000 people to witness the aarti. The funds are intended for building infrastructure to accommodate large public gatherings, including a stadium, parking zones, and other amenities.
According to the petitioner, the decision was taken without adequate assessment of its broader implications. The proposed construction activity and influx of visitors could jeopardise the safety of the KRS dam, pollute the river, and disrupt the surrounding ecosystem.
There are also concerns that the initiative could negatively affect agricultural practices in the wider Cauvery basin.
The petition argues that the administrative sanction violates provisions under the Dam Safety Act, 2021, and seeks to have it annulled. An interim stay on the project's implementation has also been requested.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
33 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Himachal govt to set up the emergency response centre in all panchayats
The Himachal Pradesh government on Saturday gave its consent for setting up Panchayat Emergency Response Centre in all panchayats of the state, according to an official statement. In a meeting held here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the cabinet gave its consent for Panchayat Emergency Response Centre in each of the 3,645 panchayats of the state to ensure effective response in the event of natural disasters to save human lives and properties. To encourage self-employment and reduce dependence on conventional energy sources, it also approved the provision of interest subsidies for the establishment of solar power projects, the statement issued here said. Under this initiative, a five per cent interest subsidy will be provided for solar projects ranging from 100 KW to 1 MW in tribal areas, while a 4 per cent subsidy will be extended for projects with capacities between 250 KW and 2 MW in non-tribal regions. The cabinet also approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Himachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency (HIMURJA) and selected Gram Panchayats for the installation of 500 KW solar power plants in 100 panchayats under the Green Panchayat Scheme. Each project is expected to generate a monthly revenue of approximately Rs 25 lakh out of which 30 per cent will go to HIMURJA, 20 per cent to the state government and 40 per cent to the respective Gram Panchayats. An additional 10 per cent share will be allocated to Gram Panchayats specifically for the welfare of orphans and widows, the statement added. It also approved reclassification of pay matrix Level-11 posts from Group-B to Group-C. With this decision, only bonafide Himachali candidates will be eligible to apply for these reclassified Group-C posts. Post-reclassification, the recruitment process will be handled by the Himachal Pradesh Rajya Chayan Aayog, in accordance with the procedures applicable to Group-C positions. Earlier, the recruitment was conducted by the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission, which allowed applicants from across the country. Approval to enhance the honorarium of multi task workers of the Public Works Department from Rs 5,000 to Rs 5,500 per month, benefitting around 5000 workers was also given and it was decided to create and fill up 101 posts of various categories in Police Lines of District Police Dehra. The cabinet decided to introduce a Milk Incentive Scheme for farmers supplying milk to eligible non-government dairy cooperative societies, under which a subsidy of Rs 3 per litre will be provided to milk producers through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. It approved the decision to shift the office of the Himachal Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation from Shimla to Dharamshala. This move aligns with the declaration of Kangra as the Tourism Capital of the state and aims to help decongest Shimla city, the statement said.
New Indian Express
35 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
SAD chief Sukhbir Singh challenges CM Mann to prove disproportionate assets case against Majithia
CHANDIGARH: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Saturday challenged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to prove that Saraya Industries Limited, in which his brother-in-law and senior party leader Bikram Singh Majithia had an inherited share of eleven percent, had received even one rupee in foreign funding from 2007 to the present time. Badal was denying allegations made in the Disproportionate Assets (DA) case registered against Majithia by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau. Badal claimed the party had "conclusive proof of the alleged corrupt acts of Bhagwant Mann and his wife Dr. Gurpreet Kaur." The SAD chief stated, "The only foreign funding received by Saraya Industries was in March 2006 (one year before SAD formed government in the state) when it received Rs 35 crore from United States-based Clearwater Corporation in exchange for 25 percent shares in the company. Majithia entered politics only in 2007." He asserted that Clearwater Corporation, which had offices in several countries, had invested Rs 50,000 crore globally. "All money invested by this company through the NBFC in Saraya Industries was done after due clearance from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and approval of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB)."
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Tripura needs stronger security due to current situation in Bangladesh: CM
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Saturday exhorted various agencies to enhance security and surveillance in the state, given the current situation in Bangladesh. Tripura is surrounded by Bangladesh on three sides. Therefore, strengthening of security is needed, the chief minister said after inaugurating the state's first cyber police station here. "We all know the present situation in Bangladesh. There is a need to enhance security arrangements. The northeastern state has been made into a corridor for the smuggling of drugs and narcotic items. Infiltration from across the border is also another problem," he said. "There are reports that a section of people go close to the international border (Indian side) and have conversations with people living on the other side of the international border. The situation may turn ugly once AI-enabled 5G service is available," he said. Referring to the shift from conventional warfare during 'Operation Sindoor', the chief minister said cannons and the presence of forces were not seen in the conflict (With Pakistan). "Modern warfare requires a click," he said. "A mobile phone has become more dangerous than AK-47 rifles. Advanced technology has changed the form of battle, conflict or war," he said. Terming cybercrime a kind of shadow warfare, he said the security forces need to fight the criminals digitally to prevent fraudulent activities. Emphasising awareness among the people about cyber fraud activities, Saha said the security agencies are also required to upgrade their skills to foil fraudulent activities on digital platforms. The Director General of Police (DGP), Anurag Dhankar, urged the people to contact the newly inaugurated cyber police station if they encounter any incident related to cybercrime. The cyber police station is located in Agartala's AD Nagar and it will deal with all cyber-related crimes across the state. The Centre has given Rs 45 lakh out of the total outlay of Rs 5 crore. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
