Latest news with #Chakrapani
The Print
15-07-2025
- The Print
MM Hills tiger deaths: DCF Chakrapani suspended over unpaid dues to anti-poaching watchers
The reason for suspending Chakrapani this time was his 'failure in the basic duty of ensuring timely payment of wages' to contractual employees hired as anti-poaching watchers to patrol the sanctuary. The report investigated how the tiger watchers and rangers, who were not directly employed by the forest department, had not received their salaries for March, April, and May this year. This was despite the state authority transferring the funds in April. This is the second time IFS officer Chakrapani has been suspended, the first being in 2023 when he was suspended as DCF of the Bengaluru Urban division over illegal tree felling. New Delhi: Three weeks after a tigress and her four cubs died of poisoning at the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Karnataka, the state government has ordered the suspension of Y Chakrapani, deputy conservator of forests (DCF), MM Hills Wildlife Division. The killing of the five tigers was the biggest single-day mortality recorded in India since the beginning of Project Tiger. A preliminary report by a high-level committee headed by the additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF) of Karnataka and comprising top forest officials was released Monday, which ascertained the cause of death as poisoning. The tigers were found near a cow carcass, which officials said could have been poisoned to kill the big cats. The exact details of the toxic compound consumed will be shared after results from the Forensic Science Laboratory arrive. The preliminary report said the committee's investigations had also found that the anti-poaching watchers had staged a protest on 23 June, three days before the tiger bodies were discovered in the Hoogyam range of the wildlife sanctuary. 'They (staffers) all have been taking loans from local sources at high interest rates for the survival of their families. But they also said they have been doing their duty sincerely and patrolling the areas assigned to them as per the instruction of their seniors,' read the preliminary report. History of the case On 26 June, five tigers were found dead inside the Male Mahadeshwara Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in the Hoogyam range. The tigers were found less than 1 km away from an anti-poaching camp inside the sanctuary, raising alarms in the Karnataka government regarding negligence by forest officials and lack of monitoring by anti-poaching watchers. Within two days, the forest department arrested three people suspected of poisoning the tigers. The accused were from a nearby village and are suspected to have poisoned the tigers in an act of revenge after one of their cattle was killed by a big cat. However, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said a high-level inquiry committee will be formed to investigate the incident. "I am deeply pained by the tragic death of five tigers — a mother and her cubs — in M.M. Hills Sanctuary, Chamarajanagar. Karnataka takes immense pride in its wildlife heritage, and such a loss is heartbreaking. A high-level committee has been formed to investigate the incident.… — CM of Karnataka (@CMofKarnataka) June 28, 2025 Soon after the tigers were found, Karnataka Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre also suspended the range forest officer (RFO) and assistant conservator of forests (ACF) for dereliction of duty. Now, Y Chakrapani is the third official to be suspended in the case. (Edited by Gitanjali Das) Also Read: Bandhavgarh elephant deaths: IVRI report indicates presence of fungal neurotoxin, no pesticides
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
EAC holds meeting on Polavaram–Banakacherla Project
The Environmental Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the Union Ministry of Environment convened a meeting to discuss the environmental clearance for the Godavari-Banakacherla Project on Tuesday (June 17, 2025). The committee is led by Professor Chakrapani, and the meeting was held in virtual mode from the Ministry's office in New Delhi. As part of this meeting, the committee is reviewing the proposal submitted by the Andhra Pradesh Government and will evaluate the environmental impact of the Banakacherla project. The Water Resources Department officials consider the meeting of the EAC as a major milestone in the approval process. The committee is now assessing the likely environmental consequences of undertaking the project. Based on the committee's report, subsequent permissions will be considered. Recognising the importance of the moment, the A.P. Government is treating this meeting with utmost seriousness. The A.P. Government would be asked to conduct the environmental impact, studies, etc. The EAC, at present, is studying the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) of the Godavari-Banakacherla Link project proposed by Andhra Pradesh. The EAC's evaluation report will play a critical role in determining the project's future permissions. At a later stage, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be prepared. The EAC meeting assumes significance in the wake of the Telangana Government's serious objections to the project. Telangana Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy has written a letter to the EAC, urging it not to grant any approval and to outrightly reject the Banakacherla Project. He stated that the Andhra Pradesh Government was moving ahead with the project without prior consent or notification to Telangana. The project seeks to divert the Godavari waters to the Krishna basin, which he claims will result in violating Telangana's legitimate water rights. He strongly urged that no environmental clearance be granted to the project.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Discom to ensure uninterrupted power supply to Miss World Pageant spots
HYDERABAD The Southern Power Distribution Company of Telangana Ltd (TGSPDCL) is making arrangements for uninterrupted power supply at all the venues where the 72nd Miss World Pageant is scheduled to be held and also at all the historical and tourist spots in the city that the guests are likely to visit. A team of the Southern Discom led by chairman and managing director Md. Musharraf Faruqui, including Chief Engineer (Metro) Chakrapani, Superintending Engineers Somi Reddy and Chandrashekhar, visited the locations to oversee the arrangements being made by the power utility staff. Speaking during the visit, Mr. Faruqui said the events related to the pageant would be held at about 20 locations, including the historical/ tourist spots. He asked the engineers, field staff and other employees of the Discom to stay vigilant round the clock so that there is no interruption in power supply even for a moment. They visited Chowmahalla Palace, Charminar, Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hitex (HICC) and other locations related to the Miss World Pageant
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
KMC Hospital, Attavar, gets IMA's AMR Smart Hospital certification
KMC Hospital, Attavar, Mangaluru, has been certified as an IMA AMR Smart Hospital by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The recognition highlights the hospital implementing advanced antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stewardship practices aligned with international standards. The certification issued on April 25, 2025, is valid for two years, a release from the hospital said on Wednesday. It quoted Chakrapani, medical superintendent of the hospital of having said: 'It is the first medical college hospital in the country to receive the IMA AMR Smart Hospital certification. This new recognition further validates our efforts to combat global health threats like antimicrobial resistance through strict stewardship and clinical excellence.'
