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The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Was any technical study done on dam safety before approving a Disneyland-type amusement park project near KRS? asks Karnataka High Court
The High Court of Karnataka on Friday directed the State government to inform by way of an affidavit whether any technical assessment was done on dam safety before approving the proposed Disneyland-type amusement park project near the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) in Mandya district at an estimated cost of ₹2,663 crore under the public-private partnership. The court also asked the government to give similar information on the proposed construction of infrastructure facilities and civil works to accommodate around 20,000 to 25,000 people in an open theatre and parking place to witness the proposed programme of Cauvery Aarti near the KRS, similar to Ganga Aarti conducted on the banks of the Ganga in Uttar Pradesh. Two PIL petitions A Division Bench comprising acting Chief Justice V. Kameswar Rao and Justice C.M. Joshi issued the direction during the hearing on two PIL petitions, filed by K. Boraiah and four other agriculturists from Krishnaraja Sagar in Srirangapatna taluk, and Sunanda Jayaram, an agriculturist from Gejjalagere in Mandya taluk. While Mr. Boraiah and others have questioned the tender issued on May 13, 2025, inviting proposals from private entities to develop the Disneyland-type project and to maintain it for 30 years, Ms. Jayaram has questioned the May 3, 2025, in-principal approval given by the Water Resources Department to Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Limited (CNNL), which is implementing the project, to utilise around ₹92 crore for creating permanent infrastructure for Cauvery Aarati. Safety concerns raised It has been pointed out in the petitions that safety of the KRS has been ignored by the authorities while proposing these projects while pointing out that the High Court, in response to separate petitions, in January 2024 banned all types of mining and quarrying activities within a 20-km radius of the dam till the completion of a study by experts and the decision to be taken by the committee on dam safety, set up as per the provisions of the Dam Safety Act, 2021. The Bench directed both the government and the CNNL to file affidavit on conduct of any technical assessment of works related to proposed projects near the dam after the State Advocate-General, though assured the court that safety of the dam has been kept in mind while approving the projects and that apprehensions of the petitioners are unfounded, sought time to answer the specific query of the court on whether prior technical assessments were carried out in this regard. Earlier, the government pointed out to the court that the tender for the amusement park project is not yet complete, but that for installing a statue of the Cauvery is complete but work order is yet to be issued. Government documents produced before the court had a reference to an old technical assessment report with regard to the impact of installing the statue and not other construction works.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Scientifically assess crop cultivation and yield to determine required number of procurement centres, Karnataka High Court directs govt.
Taking note of the fact that the traditional harvest seasons have changed owing to climatic variations, the High Court of Karnataka has directed the State government to conduct a scientific study in every district to assess the nature of crops cultivated and estimated quantity of foodgrains likely to be brought by farmers to procurement centres, prior to determining the number and location of such centres. Petition of farmers A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria (as he then was) and Justice K.V. Aravind issued the directions while disposing of a PIL petition filed by Raitha Sena Karnataka of Navalgund taluk in Dharwad district. Though the Bench did not accept the petitioner's request for keeping open the procurement centres on a permanent basis on all the 365 days of the year, it found it necessary to direct the government to open additional centres and beyond the traditional harvest seasons as both the Centre and State government had admitted that there has been a considerable change in traditional harvest seasons due to geographical and climatic changes. If the procurement centres are found to be insufficient when procurement of agricultural produce at Minimum Support Price (MSP) commences, the Bench said, the Deputy Commissioner of the district concerned should ensure that adequate additional centres are established and made operational within the procurement period to meet the demand. The number of required procurement centres has to be determined by the district MSP task force, chaired by the Deputy Commissioner of the respective district, the Bench said. Beyond traditional season In view of the fact that crop harvesting now extends beyond the traditional harvesting seasons, and in order to ensure that farmers are adequately remunerated through the MSP mechanism and are not compelled to resort to distress sale through middlemen, the State government should establish at least one procurement centre in each taluk for a period of two months beyond the procurement period fixed by the Government of India, the Bench said. However, the Bench made it clear that depending on the geographical conditions and the quantity of foodgrains produced in a particular region, the State government will have the discretion to keep procurement centres open beyond the period prescribed in this order, as may be necessary to ensure that the objectives of the MSP scheme are effectively achieved.
The Hindu
24-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Issue public notice for removal of unauthorised emblems, symbols, stickers, names and logos from public and private vehicles within four weeks: Karnataka High Court
The High Court of Karnataka directed the State government to issue public notice though print and visual media asking people to remove within four weeks all kinds of unauthorised flags, emblems, names, symbols, stickers, seals, and logos of any kind which are prohibited. The court also directed the Central and the State governments to frame regulations for imposition of fine and for cancelling driving licences by providing necessary penal measures in the relevant rules for violating law on use of the national emblems and symbols both on public and private vehicles. The court noted that there is an 'unfortunate tendency' amongst the constitutional functionaries, like former MPs, MLAs, etc., even after they demit the office, of misusing the emblems, flags, names, etc., by affixing them on their letterheads and the numberplaces of the vehicles. 'This conduct is unfortunate. The misuse of symbols, seals, flags, emblem, and names have to be countered for their illegal and unauthorised display at various places in various manners,' the court said, while directing the governments to sternly deal with such conduct. Misleading names A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice N.V. Anjaria and Justice M.I. Arun issued the directions while disposing of a PIL petition filed by the High Court Legal Services Committee. The PIL was filed based on a direction of a single judge, who had noticed use of 'Human Rights Commission' and other names, which gives an impression that they are vehicles of public authorities, illegally by private individuals and NGOs. The Bench also directed the Home Secretaries of the Centre and the State governments and other authorities to take steps to effectively implement the provisions of the The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950 and the Rules, and the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act, 2005 and the Rules, which clearly spell out who can use national and State emblems, symbols, etc., besides imposing prohibition on their use. Motor vehicle rules All applicable provisions of Central and State Motor Vehicle Rules dealing with display of registration marks and prohibition on use of State emblem, etc. should be implemented effectively, the Bench said. 'The state of affairs prevails in the society which needs to be immediately remedied by the law enforcing agencies that the people at large are witnessed on public roads and public places and also the institutions who have been unauthorisedly using the emblem, government names, department names in contravention of the law,' the Bench observed. Meanwhile, the Bench directed the higher officers to chalk out the methods and programmes to sensitise the officials and authorities to ensure that the misuse of national emblem and symbols in various forms do not occur, stopped and prevented. Educate traffic police The traffic police, the Bench said, should be educated by undertaking programmes and imparting training to keep observance and proper vigil to take penal action whenever they come across the violation of the kind and nature. The authorities should be instructed to register the cases under the provisions of the relevant laws wherever the complaints with regard to the misuse of the emblems and symbols are found correct, by issuing necessary circulars, the Bench said. The school children or law students should also be involved in spreading awareness against misuse and unauthorised display of emblems and symbols by any person, body or organisation.
