Latest news with #Veerappa
New Indian Express
10-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Upa Lokayukta to launch massive drive to plant 80k saplings in Karnataka's Tumakuru
BENGALURU: Continuing his mission to protect and enrich the environment, Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa will on Thursday launch a massive drive to plant 80,000 saplings in 300 acres of forest land in Chikkanayakanahalli taluk of Tumakuru District The programme was reclaimed by the revenue department from encroachers and handed over to the forest department. After taking over as Upa Lokayukta in July 2024, Justice Veerappa was instrumental in planting 40,000 saplings, including 25,000 in Tumakuru, 10,000 in Kolar and 2,000 in Karighatta of Mandya district. The land at Chikkanayakanahalli was occupied by encroachers for decades and was restored as forest land. Despite a recommendation made by the then Upa Lokayukta Justice N Anand under Section 12(1) of the Karnataka Lokayukta Act in 2019 on a complaint filed in 2015 by one Siddalingegowda, the land was not reclaimed by the state authorities for about six years. Taking up the matter after taking charge, Justice Veerappa warned of referring the matter to the governor for action, while summoning the officials concerned and fixing hearings back-to-back to take the issue to a logical end. The proceedings culminated with the revenue department reclaiming the land and making related entries in the revenue records on June 17, 2025, to show that this land belongs to the forest. 'I am launching the plantation drive to protect the land from unscrupulous persons and enrich nature further,' Justice Veerappa told TNIE.
New Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Widow of soldier martyred in Pulwama to finally get a piece of land after 25 years of struggle
BENGALURU: A 25-year struggle to have a piece of land by the widow of a CRPF constable who attained martyrdom in an IED blast triggered by militants at Tral Pulwama in Jammu and Kashmir is coming to an end, at last. The issue came to the notice of Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa when he paid a surprise visit to Mandya recently. The authorities were pulled up by Upa Lokayukta for making the widow of a martyr to wait for over 25 years for a grant of land. Followingly, the Mandya district administration has come up to allot a 30x40 ft site to Geetha under the Urban Ashraya Scheme in Hosaholalu Layout in K R Pet taluk. B C Geetha's husband Sunderesha L B, a native of Lingapura in K R Pet taluk of Mandya district, martyred on February 18, 2000. Followingly, Geetha applied for a grand land bearing Sy. No.48, measuring 8 acres of Shravanahalli village of Akkihebbal Hobli of KR Pet taluk, but it was not considered by the authorities and therefore, she filed a complaint before the Upa Lokayukta in June 2022. Several notices were issued to the authorities, and the matter was taken up with the district administration when Justice Veerappa visited Mandya recently. Justice Veerappa was informed by Ashok, Tahsildar, KR Pet taluk, that Sy. No.48 was forest land and cannot be granted.
New Indian Express
26-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Water in Bengaluru lakes not fit for even farming
BENGALURU: The quality of water in 2,020 lakes in and around Bengaluru coming under different zones of Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) are of 'D' and 'E' categories, which makes them unfit even for agriculture. This was revealed when Lokayukta officials paid a surprise visit to KSPCB offices and conducted a search in the city on Wednesday. BBMP and BWSSB are letting untreated sewage into the Vrishabhavathi river due to the lack of an underground drainage system, and not industries or apartments. The water quality in this catchment area is categorised as 'D' and 'E'. While test results have been the same every month for the last several years, no steps have been taken to address it and neither have criminal cases been registered against both agencies by KSPCB under provisions of the Air and Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Acts and Environment (Protection) Act. Although KSPCB authorities claimed there is a 50-metre buffer zone along the Vrishabhavathi in BDA and BBMP limits, as there was an exception against the actual 500m buffer zone, they have not prevented illegal constructions even within 50m. Except a few lakes which are monitored by courts taking up suo motu cases, the majority of lakes are polluted severely, besides being encroached. This was disclosed by KSPCB authorities themselves when Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa accompanied judicial and police officers who visited RR Nagar region. This team is one among 27 teams which paid surprise visits. Water bodies with water quality in 'D' and 'E' categories include 35 lakes in Anekal Zone, 40 lakes in Bommanahalli Zone, 35 lakes in Bengaluru South Zone, 1,772 lakes in Bengaluru East Zone comprising Kolar, Chikkaballapura, Mahadevapura and Hosakote, 24 lakes in Bengaluru City Zone, 8 lakes in Bengaluru City East Zone, 16 lakes in Sarjapur Zone, 40 lakes in Mahadevapura Zone, 12 lakes in Hosakote and Devanahalli Zone, 2 lakes in Bengaluru City West Zone, 6 lakes in Bengaluru City South Zone and 30 lakes in Bengaluru North Zone. This was disclosed by KSPCB authorities when Justice Veerappa confronted them with the provisions of law during the visit. It was also found that KSPCB officials had done UPI transactions beyond their legitimate income, hence their financial statements have been sought by Justice Veerappa. Corruption charges Lokayukta Justice BS Patil visited the KSPCB head office, and Lokayukta IGP Subramanyeshara Rao visited Peenya Industrial Area. The visit came in view of complaints received against KSPCB officials on corruption charges, nepotism, maladministration, and dereliction of duty.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Corruption a disease dangerous than cancer: Justice Veerappa
Mandya: Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa on Wednesday declared that corruption is "a disease more dangerous than cancer." He stressed that, unlike cancer, which can often be treated, corruption corrodes the very moral fabric of society and resists cure. Speaking at the public grievance redressal programme, he emphasised that corruption weakens governance, erodes public trust, and dishonours the values. While noting that over 80% of the Indian population is now educated, he expressed concern that too few people understand or uphold the values enshrined in the Constitution. More than 400 complaints were received at the event. Encouraging citizens to act against wrongdoing, Justice Veerappa said, "Every individual has the right to approach the Lokayukta. Use that right fearlessly to report injustice or corruption." Also present at the event were Lokayukta additional registrar Srinivas, District Legal Services Authority secretary Anand, deputy commissioner Kumara, zilla panchayat CEO KR Nandini, superintendent of police Mallikarjun Baladandi, Lokayukta SP Suresh Babu, and additional deputy commissioner BC Shivananda Murthy.
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Upa Lokayukta uncovers major violations in Kolar stone quarries, orders case against 18 officials
BENGALURU: The recent visit of Upa Lokayukta Justice B Veerappa to the villages in Tekal hobli of Malur taluk in Kolar district has revealed shocking findings about a dozen stone quarries and stone-crushing units excavating more than 300 ft deep, violating norms like exceeding permissible digging limits and lack of safety measures and border stones and fencing, among others. Justice Veerappa ordered a case against 18 officials of the Mines and Geology, Public Works, Revenue, Survey, Labour departments, Bescom, Regional Transport Officer, Environment Officer and others of the district and issued notice to them. Among other violations, a stone-crushing unit is running in 186, Makarahalli, even after the expiry of the lease in 2021. Justice Veerappa sought details like how many stone quarries and crushers are licensed and how many are operating without permits, illegal mining, and transport of murram and sand. Apart from this, he also directed them to furnish other details, such as whether a Mineral Dispatch Permit under Rule 42(1) of the KMCC Rules is issued and is being regularly supervised; if there are violations, how many cases are registered; whether all vehicles for the transport of minor minerals are registered for that purpose; and cases registered for non-installation of GPS and violation of prescribed routes for transport of minor minerals.
