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Hindustan Times
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Cauvery aarti' near KRS reservoir inspired by Ganga aarti under Karnataka HC lens. Here's why
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. The government aims to launch the Cauvery aarti event by Dasara and is planning a facility to accommodate around 10,000 people to witness it, however, there are concerns that the initiative could negatively affect agricultural practices in the wider Cauvery basin. (HT Photo/For representation) 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. ALSO READ | Another tigress found dead in Bandipur reserve in Karnataka; Officials cite 'natural causes' 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 ₹ 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. ALSO READ | Bengaluru commuters brace for toll hikes on elevated expressway starting July 2025: Report 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. ALSO READ | Bank manager, two others held for over ₹ 53 crore heist in Karnataka 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.
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
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.
New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Karnataka HC to govt: Tech analysis done for Cauvery Aarti, amusement park at KRS?
BENGALURU: The Karnataka High Court on Friday directed the State Government and Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd (CNNL) to inform whether any technical assessment was done on dam safety before approving the proposed Disneyland-type amusement park at a cost of Rs 2,663 crore near Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) in Mandya district. Noting that an affidavit has to be submitted by the State Government, the HC also sought information from the government on the proposed construction of an open theatre to accommodate 20,000-25,000 people and civil works for a parking lot to witness the proposed Cauvery Aarti near KRS on the lines of Ganga Aarti. A division bench of acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice CM Joshi passed the order after hearing two PILs filed by K Boraiah and four other farmers from Srirangapatna taluk and also Sunanda Jayaram, a farmer leader from Gejjalagere of Mandya taluk. They have questioned the May 13 tender inviting proposals from private entities to develop the Disneyland-type project and to maintain it for 30 years. Meanwhile, Sunanda Jayaram challenged the principal approval given by the Water Resources Department on May 3 to CNNL to utilise Rs 92 crore for creating permanent infrastructure for Cauvery Aarti. The petitioners in both petitions contended that the HC had 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 has to be taken by the Committee on Dam Safety but the safety of the dam has been ignored by the State Government by taking up both projects. Advocate General K Shashikiran Shetty assured the court that the dam's safety has been kept in mind while approving the projects. The court, however, directed the State Government and the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd to file an affidavit on the conduct of the technical assessment of works of the proposed projects. The State Government informed the High Court that the tender for the amusement park project is yet to be completed and the tender for installing the Cauvery statue is completed and the work order has to be issued. Further hearing is on July 23.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Political reasons behind e-taxi ban: Association tells Karnataka HC
BENGALURU: Withdrawal of the 'e-bike taxi scheme' in 2014 was not a study-based decision, but one that was taken because of 'political reasons' citing the law and order situation, argued the Bike Taxi Welfare Association before the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday. The association stated that livelihoods of around 6 lakh families, out of 6.5 lakh riders, across the state would be affected because of the state's decision not to allow the registration of two-wheelers as taxis. The Association counsel made the submission before the division bench of acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice CM Joshi during the hearing of the appeals filed by the Association, taxi aggregators such as Ola, Uber, Rapido and also a few owners of two-wheelers. The appeals were filed against a single-judge order on April 2, which held that taxi aggregators cannot offer bike taxis on their platforms unless the state government notifies relevant guidelines under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The Association counsel alleged that the withdrawal of the 'e-taxi scheme' in 2014 was for political reasons because of continuous confrontations between drivers of autorickshaws, maxi cabs and bikes taxi riders. It was also reasoned that bike taxis did not provide protection to women. Instead of stopping bike taxis, the state government should have taken remedial measures if a law and order situation arose. Not registering two-wheelers as taxis under the Motor Vehicles Act and Karnataka Motor Vehicle Rules is a violation of fundamental rights, the counsel argued. The case was adjourned to July 2.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Bike taxis are necessity, not luxury: Aggregators, bike owners argue at Karnataka HC
Academy Empower your mind, elevate your skills The petitioners challenging the state's blanket ban on bike taxis argued in Karnataka High Court on Wednesday that the service plays a vital role in urban mobility and must be allowed to operate under existing legal provisions. "They are a necessity, not a luxury," they said.A Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice V Kameswar Rao and Justice C M Joshi was hearing appeals filed by ride-hailing platforms Ola , Uber, and Rapido, as well as bike taxi owners and associations, against an earlier ruling by a single judge that effectively outlawed bike taxi operations in the single judge's April verdict had barred bike taxi aggregators from operating until the Karnataka government formally notifies guidelines under Section 93 of the Motor Vehicles Act, court had also held that the state transport department was under no obligation to register motorcycles as transport vehicles or issue them contract carriage permits. Accordingly, the order directed a complete shutdown of bike taxi services within six weeks, a deadline later extended to June Wednesday's proceedings, advocate Shashank Garg, representing the Bike Taxi Welfare Association, contended that bike taxis serve as an essential function in easing traffic congestion and providing last-mile the state's 2021 E-Bike Taxi Policy , Garg argued that Karnataka had already laid the groundwork for such services, and its reversal in 2024 seemed politically also pointed out the inconsistency with a 2019 expert committee report that had recommended against allowing bike taxis in Bengaluru. That report, Garg said, was invalidated by the subsequent E-Bike Rules, which were abruptly to judicial queries, Garg said the state had the authority to regulate fares, adding that the current rate was around Rs 8 per kilometre. "Bike taxis are often the only mode of transport that can navigate congested areas or reach places inaccessible to cars and even ambulances."Senior advocate Dayan Chinnappa, representing individual bike owners Varikruti Mahendra Reddy and Madhu Kiran, questioned the legality of the state's decision to phase out contract carriage permits for Article 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to practice any profession or carry on any occupation, he said, "If the rules permit bike taxis, the state cannot refuse permits arbitrarily. That would be a direct violation of fundamental rights."Chinnappa emphasised that aggregator rules themselves permit the operation of bike taxis, and the state is legally obligated to register these vehicles and issue necessary permits. "The state cannot stop individuals from registering on aggregator platforms and earning their livelihood," he further added, "It's unfair to blame traffic woes on bike taxis when the city's population is expanding due to its economic growth. More people means more vehicles -- that's not the fault of bike taxis."The court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter for July 2.
