From crisis to boom: How Thrithala recharged its groundwater sources
Thanks to the pioneering 'Susthira Thrithala' project launched in 2022, the region has undergone a significant ecological transformation, proving how local governance and scientific planning can tackle one of India's most pressing environmental challenges.
Spearheaded by M B Rajesh, Minister for Local Self Government, Rural Development, and Excise - and the sitting MLA of Thrithala - the innovative water conservation project has successfully addressed declining groundwater levels through a holistic approach that includes rainwater harvesting, artificial recharge systems, and integrated environmental initiatives.
Over the past four years, the project has added the capacity to harvest and store over 5 crore litres of rainwater within the constituency. Notably, Thrithala also became the first Legislative Assembly constituency in the country to implement a comprehensive water budget at the constituency level, encompassing all its grama panchayats.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Hans India
Plastic ban enforced in Muzrai temples; fines imposed
Bengaluru: Karnataka Muzrai Minister Ramalinga Reddy announced that from Friday, the use of plastic has been completely banned inside all temples under the jurisdiction of the Muzrai Department. Speaking in Ramanagara, he said that the ban applies to the interiors of temple premises, while decisions regarding restrictions outside temple boundaries will be taken by the state government and district administrations. The move aims to maintain environmental cleanliness. The minister had also briefed the Legislative Council on Thursday regarding this plastic ban in Muzrai temples. He stated that temple authorities have been instructed to impose fines on those found violating the order. In Ramanagara district, which comes under the Bengaluru South region, the district administration has issued an order prohibiting the use and sale of plastics in all Muzrai temples. Items such as plastic bins, buckets, jugs, covers, and bottles are specifically banned during pujas and temple activities. Additionally, Minister Reddy revealed in the Legislative Assembly that the government is considering instructions for conducting temple rituals and reciting shlokas in Kannada instead of Sanskrit. This came in response to a suggestion from BJP MLC Bharati Shetty regarding the promotion of Kannada shlokas in temples.
The Hindu
18 hours ago
- The Hindu
I-Day celebrations in Kalaburagi cut short amid mourning for Sharanabasavappa Appa
The 79th Independence Day celebrations in Kalaburagi were a subdued affair on Friday, as the city mourned the passing of Sharanabasavappa Appa, the eighth Mahadasoha Peetadhipathi of the Sharanabasaveshwara Samsthan. The district administration curtailed the official programme to less than 20 minutes as a mark of respect to the revered spiritual leader. The Independence Day celebrations began at 9 a.m. at the Police Parade Grounds, where District In-charge Minister Priyank Kharge, who also holds the portfolios of Rural Development, Panchayat Raj, and IT-BT, hoisted the national flag. He then took the ceremonial salute in an open jeep, inspecting the parade formed by 16 contingents, including the Civil Police, KSRP 6th Battalion, Bharat Seva Dal, NCC cadets from the Army Pre-Recruitment Training School, Home Guards, Forest Department, Fire and Emergency Services, and students from various schools. The event departed from tradition in more ways than one. There were no speeches outlining the government's achievements, no tableaux or cultural programmes by schoolchildren, and no formal inauguration of new government vehicles. After the parade and a brief moment of silence in honour of Appa, Minister Priyank returned to the dais, conferred briefly with local legislators, and the emcees announced the conclusion of the programme. 'Since Sharanabasavappa Appa attained Lingaikya (union with the divine), we decided to keep the celebrations purely symbolic,' Minister Priyank later told reporters. The occasion drew the presence of several public representatives and senior officials, including MLAs Allamprabhu Patil and Kaneez Fatima, Nijasharana Ambigar Chowdayya Development Corporation Chairman Baburao Chinchansur, MLCs Tippannappa Kamakanur and Jagadev Guttedar, Mayor Varsha Jane, Deputy Mayor Tripti Lakhe, Kalaburagi Urban Development Authority Chairman Mazhar Alam Khan, Regional Commissioner Zaheera Naseem, IGP (Northeast Range) Shantanu Sinha, KKRDB Secretary Nalin Atul, Deputy Commissioner B. Fouzia Taranum, ZP CEO Bhanwar Singh Meena, Municipal Commissioner Avinash Shinde, KKRTC MD B. Sushila, Police Commissioner S.D. Sharanappa, Superintendent of Police, Adduru Srinivasulu, and other senior administrative officers. Students, members of the public, and uniformed personnel filled the stands in silent solidarity. The otherwise solemn day was briefly interrupted by an incident en route to the venue, when a car carrying a Congress leader from Minister Kharge's convoy rammed into a barricade near Kanya Girls' High School. The impact badly damaged the bonnet, headlamp, and bumper, though no injuries were reported. The Minister's vehicle had already moved ahead. The driver, who reportedly did not notice the barricade placed to regulate traffic, resumed the journey to the Parade Grounds after a brief halt. The shortened celebrations stood in stark contrast to the usual pomp of Independence Day in the city, but for Kalaburagi, the day's spirit was defined less by speeches and parades and more by the collective mourning of a spiritual leader whose influence touched countless lives.
Hans India
a day ago
- Hans India
Reveal the name of the masked man in Dharmasthala: LoP
Bengaluru: The government must reveal the name of the masked man who is instructing to dig the ground in Dharmasthala. The SIT should not be disbanded but continued. Additionally, to detect those conspiring behind this, the matter should be handed over to the NIA for investigation, demanded opposition leader R Ashoka. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, he said that instead of calling the mask man crazy at the end, an investigation should have been conducted first. His mental health examination has not been done till now. More than one crore rupees have been spent so far. Hitachi and JCB machines are being used. Modern weapons are being employed. This seems like a sponsored activity. The government must disclose who this masked man is, he demanded. Criminals will definitely be punished for criminal activities. In many cases, even chief ministers have been punished. In murder cases, the police do not spare anyone. The SIT should not be disbanded but continued, and an investigation must be conducted. Similarly, it should be revealed under whose pressure this SIT was formed. There is suspicion of foreign funding for this, so hand over the investigation to the NIA to detect the conspiring group, he urged. 'Digging a hill to catch a mouse' When a complaint was filed claiming there are hundreds of skeletons in Dharmasthala, the Congress government immediately formed an SIT. Neither the court nor officer Pranav Mohanty asked to form the SIT. Which gang is behind this? Which gang is around Chief Minister Siddaramaiah? Who inspired this? Public money is being used to dig the ground like this. But it's like digging a hill to catch a mouse. They scared people saying a tiger has come, but in the end, not even a mouse was found, he alleged. Information about the mask man is coming in the media every moment. But his name has not been revealed. People are saying his name is Chinnayya, and he has converted to Christianity. The police are doing makeup for him every day, feeding him biryani, providing full security, and taking him around. He is enjoying all this. The police dug where he instructed. Later, they spent one and a half lakh rupees using drones and other machines. Would anyone bury a body 20 feet deep? Doesn't the government have that much common sense? he questioned. Even digging six feet is very difficult for one person. But if this person has done so much work alone, it has to be called a fairy tale. It's unbelievable that he carried the body on his shoulder and went to the forest alone. Now, if they turn the dug area into an agricultural pond, it would benefit the farmers, he said sarcastically. Nothing found 'Despite digging so much every day, nothing is being found. The police should have first investigated who filed the complaint. Who is that person? They should have checked his background. Instead, lakhs of rupees are being wasted. If it's about delivering justice in the Dharmasthala Soujanya rape case, we all will support it. But under that pretext, Manjunatha Swami is being insulted. Earlier, they tried to drown Tirupati. Later, they attempted to destroy Sabarimala and Shani Singnapur temples', he said. 'Hindu religious sites are not right. They think if all these are finished, religion can be destroyed. There are many in our country who are spoiling the sanctity of the sites. The police must look at the team behind the masked man. Someone named Sujata Bhat has now come and filed a complaint saying her daughter Ananya has been kidnapped. According to information on Suvarna Channel, her family members said she doesn't even have a daughter. It has come to light that she is not an MBBS student at all. Who is giving such directions to the police?' he questioned.
