Home nurse booked for stealing valuables from house in Karnataka's Udupi
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Infra crumbles under rain: 2 cave-ins on Basai Rd in 2 days
Gurgaon: Another patch of Basai Road collapsed on Saturday near Feroz Gandhi Colony's entrance, making it the second cave-in on the same stretch in two days — an occurrence that residents say highlights the state of civic infrastructure in the city. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The latest collapse occurred barely 100 metres from a similar cave-in reported on Friday near Manohar Nagar post office, both caused by an ageing underground drain that is part of the city's main sewerage network. MCG officials on Sunday said the old sewer line had sunk into the ground over time, causing the soil above it to give way. Repair work, already underway after Friday's incident, was disrupted by Saturday's rainfall. "We began plugging the leak and initiated repairs, but Saturday's rain forced us to unplug it temporarily, as it is the main trunk line. Repair work will resume shortly, and the damaged portion will be rectified within a couple of days as the 900mm line lies nearly 20 feet below the surface, making its repair intricate," an MCG official said. The sewer line serves densely populated colonies across Old Gurgaon, including Shivaji Nagar, Om Vihar, Feroz Gandhi Colony and Surya Vihar. Residents have reported frequent cave-ins over the past three years, particularly during monsoon, as authorities fail to provide lasting solutions. "Every year we see some patch or another sink on this road, and each time they repair it only to be damaged again. The road is already narrow, and every time this kind of issue happens, only one carriageway is functional, and people get stuck for hours for a five-minute journey. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The municipal corporation needs to find a permanent solution," said Suraj Bhola, who regularly uses this stretch. The sewer network was originally laid in 2009 by the Public Works Department and Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP) before being transferred to MCG in 2018. Last August, MCG prepared a Rs 3.5-crore estimate to strengthen the area's sewer network through cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) lining, but the project remains unimplemented. Sources within MCG indicated the corporation is considering transferring the master sewerage network above 600mm diameter pipelines to GMDA. GMDA maintains Basai Road, but the corporation has the responsibility to ensure the sewer line under the stretch operates without disruptions. In June this year, a portion of Sohna Road caved in, the fifth such incident over the last two years due to a damaged sewer line. Subsequently, NHAI decided to repair GMDA's sewer line on its own. Last month, a major portion near the Sector 12 intersection caved in after an underground sewer manhole wall collapsed, creating a gaping cavity that disrupted traffic flow in the area. The same month, a portion of road near Sector 75A caved in, swallowing a truck.
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Server down becomes code for graft in Karnataka's sub-registrar offices
Bengaluru: Karnataka's ambitious e-governance drive, meant to fast-track services and curb corruption, is increasingly turning into a digital smokescreen for graft — especially in sub-registrar offices. Across the state, the phrase "server down" has morphed into a thinly veiled signal for citizens to grease palms to move even routine paperwork. What was pitched as a corruption-free system has, in many places, become a sophisticated tool to collect illegal payments. "E-governance in Karnataka was envisioned as a tool to ensure transparency and accountability in govt functioning, but its implementation has fallen short of expectations," said civic activist Vivek Menon. "While digital platforms were meant to reduce human intervention and curb corruption, loopholes in the system have instead given rise to new forms of graft." Menon said staff now manipulate digital records, delay online approvals, and exploit citizens unfamiliar with technology. "Further, being gatekeepers for approvals, officials cite delays and impose hurdles to extract money for clearances. The lack of robust auditing and cyber-vigilance has allowed a tech-savvy few to misuse the system for personal gain," Menon said. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru A 2022 Lokayukta investigation revealed misuse in 45 of 245 sub-registrar offices. Frequent crashes in the Kaveri property registration system enabled staff and middlemen to collect unofficial payments between Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000. Regular visitors claim the demand has now gone up by 20%. E-khata services, designed to avoid human interference, are also being misused. Citizens in Bengaluru and other cities say they were made to pay Rs 3,000–15,000 extra for what was supposed to be an end-to-end online service. "Sub-registrar offices have introduced mandatory 'tax' to get servers working," said multiple users on social media. Vinay Chenagappa, a Bengaluru resident, said, "I was told the digital portal was 'down'—and directed to pay intermediaries outside the office. Money brings everything 'up'. Pay some to shops outside the sub-registrar office. Sad but it's the truth, without mandatory tax it's very difficult to get registration done… Registration offices have a daily collection… Before closing for the day, every single staff member gets his/her share. " Real estate analyst Ravikanth Uday shared a similar experience: "The digital divide has further marginalised the poor and uneducated, making them more vulnerable to exploitation. E-governance should have empowered such citizens, but in many instances, it has become another bureaucratic hurdle. Without stronger oversight, transparency, and citizen engagement, Karnataka's digital transformation risks becoming a sophisticated facade for old-school corruption. " Complaints also point to lopsided enforcement. "Middle-class citizens face scrutiny while real estate tycoons and builders proceed unchecked as they work under different 'payment' systems," said one user. Another added, "Without greasing palms it's very difficult... Officials demand Rs 20,000 to Rs 40,000 just to complete legal formalities." In July 2024, the govt introduced mandatory counselling for sub-registrars and senior staff before transfers, hoping to break entrenched local networks. But the move has had little effect. Revenue minister Krishna Byre Gowda has made surprise visits to some offices and warned erring officials, videos of which have been widely shared on social media, but systemic change remains elusive. "While digitisation is intended to reduce human intervention, its effectiveness is undermined without robust transparency and enforcement measures," said civic advocate Mohd Hidayath. He recommended special courts for graft cases in sub-registrar offices and an anonymous whistleblower mechanism. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
Single-window system of Belagavi police to aid festival preparations
Belagavi: The police department opened a single window system at each police station in Belagavi city to help the Sarvajanik Ganeshotsav Mandals obtain various permissions under one roof. Belagavi City Corporation (BCC) has undertaken pothole filling and road repair works. The police department held multiple meetings with the office bearers of various Mandals to address their grievances. Ganesh Mandals have planned to celebrate Ganeshotsav at more than 3,500 places across the district, including over 400 locations in Belagavi city. It is mandatory for Ganesh Mandals to obtain permission from the district administration to install public Ganesh idols. Therefore, a single window centre was started in the city police commissioner's office premises in collaboration with the BCC, Hescom, public works department, fire department, and police department. Environmentalist Sujith said that the use of PoP Ganesha idols should be gradually reduced, as they harm the environment. City police commissioner Bhushan Borase said in a release that permission centres will function from 2 pm to 10 pm every day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Featuring Brigade Ebony™ at Brigade Showcase 2025 | Aug 8–10, Sheraton Grand, Brigade Gateway Brigade Group Learn More Undo Security arrangements across the district Belagavi Ganeshotsava is special in the state, with lakhs of people gathering. Therefore, the police department has prepared for a peaceful festival by keeping a close watch on sensitive areas. It was decided to deploy police officers from outside districts, including KSRP and RAF. A police officer said that a meeting of leaders of various religions was already held in all police stations, instructing them to celebrate the festival peacefully. Preparation in BCC jurisdiction According to the officials of the district administration, Rs 18 lakh was allocated for the use of cranes for the immersion of Ganesha idols in wells. BCC has reserved Rs 48 lakh for the cleaning of Ganesh idol immersion ponds located in various places, including Old Kapileshwar pond, Kote Kere, and Kanabargi pond. The corporation has decided to close the potholes on the roads used for idol immersion processions. BCC commissioner Shubha B said that in the wake of Ganeshotsav, priority is being given to improving the city's main roads and cleaning the idol immersion ponds. The work has started in some places. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
