Tribal hamlet in Anakapalle gets power after long wait
Located in the Madugula Assembly constituency, the village known as Pasuvulabandha had previously seen the migration of ten families due to the lack of essential amenities. Only eight families remained, continuing to live without road connectivity and electricity.
Repeated requests for electrification were raised in Zilla Parishad meetings, and the villagers annually marked the Sankranti festival with symbolic protests by lighting torches made of cattle dung. Responding to these concerns, the State government sanctioned Rs 23 lakh to extend power lines from Kalyanakova in Cheemalapadu Panchayat via Jeelugulova to the hamlet.
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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Two years after Rs 4-crore rejuvenation, Bengaluru's Gangashetty lake faces pollution, fish deaths
1 2 Bengaluru: Gangashetty lake in KR Pura is facing severe distress with multiple fishkills being reported barely two years after its Rs 4-crore rejuvenation in 2023. Both locals and BBMP officials attribute fishkills reported since July 31 to untreated sewage flowing into the lake through a stormwater drain. Lake activist Raghavendra Pachhapur, who has been raising the alarm on social media, blamed the crisis on poor planning of rejuvenation projects. He said lakes are naturally situated at lower altitudes, allowing rainwater from surrounding areas to flow in, maintaining water quality. "Instead, BBMP connects lakes to polluted rajakaluves carrying sewage, plastic, and waste throughout the year. Without a steady inflow of clean rainwater, lake ecology collapses," he said. BBMP lake division also admitted that the inflow system is a major concern at Gangashetty lake. BBMP officials have identified two problems with the connected rajakaluve — an encroachment that has narrowed the drain's outlet and a faulty inlet that allows sewage to enter during rains. A diversion channel was built to separate sewage from rainwater, but it fails during heavy rainfall. According to a BBMP engineer, the sewage volume in the rajakaluve near Gangashetty increased from 5-10 million litres per day (MLD) to 40-50 MLD. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Heart Healthy WIth These Delicious Superfoods Undo The engineer blames BWSSB for permitting untreated sewage into stormwater drains, which are meant only for rainwater. The problem has been compounded by new buildings and apartments discharging sewage directly into the drain instead of connecting to the underground drainage network. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru Conflict of interest The engineer calls it a conflict of interest. "BWSSB manages the underground drainage network but allows sewage to flow into rajakaluves, while BBMP is left to handle the resulting lake pollution," said the engineer. For residents like Srinivas of Chinnagara Layout, which is just 50m from the lake, the decline is heartbreaking. Part of a 25-member volunteer team that maintains greenery around the lake, he said they have found seven or eight dead fish in a single morning, alongside dead birds. "The sewage-rainwater mix brings chemicals, plastic, and waste that suffocate aquatic life. There are snakes, birds, and different kinds of fish… all of them are getting affected. Around the lake, we have planted saplings, and they are bearing fruits. We volunteers water them… we are doing the best we can in our capacity to protect our lake. But neither BBMP nor BWSSB is doing anything to protect what is in their capacity," Srinivas said. Locals are clear about the solution: restore clean rainwater inflow and completely block the entry of sewage. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike to rope in fresh graduates to save lives from falling trees
Bengaluru: The city's tree-lined roads have long been its pride, but in recent months they've also come to be feared. Reason: in the last eight months, five persons have been killed and over a dozen injured because of tree and branch falls across the city. Now, to prevent such tragedies, BBMP's forest department is taking an unconventional route: it is hiring 10 fresh environmental science and biodiversity graduates to physically inspect Bengaluru's trees for signs of weakness. Between May and Aug 11 this year, 807 trees and 2,247 branches came crashing down, injuring people, damaging property, and in some cases, taking lives. The civic agency draws flak every time an innocent life is lost, with many slamming it for not pruning trees ahead of monsoon season. It's in this backdrop that these graduates, who specialise in environmental and biodiversity studies, will be employed for two months to identify trees and branches at risk of falling. The primary focus of these new hires will be on main and arterial roads, where the risk to the public is greatest because of high foot traffic. If successful, the initiative may be expanded to include sub-arterial and ward roads. The current tree census, which notes potential weaknesses in trees, is not sufficient for identifying dry and old branches; so physical inspections will be conducted. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Stylish New Mobility Scooters Available for Seniors (Prices May Surprise You) Mobility Scooter | Search Ads Search Now Undo You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru Sudarshan GK, deputy convener of BBMP's forest wing, explained that the environmental graduates are expected to identify tree species, assess the condition of branches, and spot any visible diseases. This work will be done through physical observation without the use of machinery. Depending on the success of this initiative, advanced technology and machinery may be introduced later to assess the age and stability of trees. Each fellow will receive a monthly salary of Rs 30,000, requiring a budget of approximately Rs 6 lakh for the project. Insurance cover In addition to these efforts, BBMP is also working on a new insurance scheme to cover damage caused by falling trees and branches. The Palike is inviting bids from insurance companies to offer a commercial general liability policy for injuries or fatalities caused by falling trees or branches within its jurisdiction. The policy will need to cover medical expenses up to Rs 17 lakh, death benefits of Rs 10 lakh, and permanent disability benefits of Rs 5 lakh (all per person). The insurance will not cover property or vehicle damage. Currently, BBMP provides compensation of up to Rs 5 lakh for deaths or permanent injuries, with other injuries compensated based on severity. In the past eight months, the civic body reported 14 victims of tree and branch falls, with five fatalities. This new initiative aims to reduce such incidents and improve public safety. Interested insurance companies must submit technical and financial proposals. The technical proposal should include proof of eligibility, such as an IRDA registration certificate, GST registration, financial turnover statements, relevant work orders, performance certificates, and a self-declaration of not being blacklisted. The financial proposal should quote the premium amount, inclusive of all taxes, and must be submitted through the Karnataka Public Procurement Portal. Proposals will be valid for 90 days, with the possibility of extension. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
CAG report flags issues related to waste mgmt capacity of ULBs
Lucknow: More capacity is needed to address the collection and disposal of waste across the state as the CAG report has flagged serious issues with the capacity of urban local bodies and has cited more than a dozen examples where focus is required to plug loopholes in the system. Though many states adopted solid waste management rules in 2016, it took another two years to frame the rules in Uttar Pradesh to enforce penalty on violators. Apart from nagar panchayats and nagar palikas, the working of municipal corporations was also found to be lacking. The audit, conducted between April 2016 and March 2022, found that out of the 45 urban local bodies evaluated, only three had implemented the rules. No instance of segregation at source was found at that time. Pointing to dismal condition, the auditors noted that between 2005 and 2015, only 15 waste treatment plants were set up, while 36 more were sanctioned in 2021-22. Only Lucknow and Ghaziabad had the capacity to deal with waste during the said period. The report noted that the average national waste treatment capacity is close to 46 tonnes, while in cities of UP that were examined, it was found to be 35 tonnes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Dubbing the treatment plant set up in Pratap Vihar under Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation as unfruitful, the report noted that though work on the plant was initiated in May 2017 with a budget of Rs 4.61 crore, it could not deliver and was not operational till June 2023. An expenditure of Rs 15.4 crore was made on treating legacy waste. Similar was the fate of the waste-to-energy plant that was envisaged in Nov 2018 with a budget of Rs 14.3 crore in Ghaziabad. The report said that delays in getting waste treatment projects operational were also detected in Lucknow (Shivri), Kanpur (Panki), and in nagar palikas and nagar panchayats in Bulandshahar, Muzaffarnagar, and Ballia. Moreover, out of 1,659 tippers deployed for waste management, only 1,118 were found to have compartments to handle the segregated waste during the said period. Making recommendations to the govt, CAG report said that the state should ensure implementation of waste management rules across all the urban local bodies, strengthening of segregation at source and doorstep waste collection. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
