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New Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Encroachment of Channapatna lakes gets Upa Lokayukta's goat
Justice Phaneendra, who also visited a few lakes of the taluk to take stock, stated that it is the right of every person to live in a healthy and clean environment, and it is also the right of every person to have access to potable drinking water. The Supreme Court time and again has held that such rights are fundamental and citizens cannot be deprived of the same, he added. He also observed that the lakes play a vital role in providing sources of water for various purposes, like drinking, farming and other chores. If what is stated in the news item is true, then the same would violate the right under the Constitution of India. The news indicates that various lakes in and around Channapatna town are polluted. As per Section 87 of the Karnataka Municipalities Act, 1964, obligatory functions are cast on the municipal councils to look after the water bodies, sewage, drainage work, supply of water etc. Such being the case, it is obligatory that the City Municipal Council maintain, and make sure that the lakes are not polluted to ensure that the citizens get a clean and healthy environment, he noted. Justice Phaneendra has also stated that the Karnataka Lokayukta Act casts an obligation on Lokayukta or Upa Lokayukta under Section 12(1) for redressal of the grievance of the public and Section 2(1) casts an obligation to prevent the maladministration by the public authorities. In light of this, 'I am of the firm opinion that the news item published in TNIE can be treated as source material for me to exercise my suo motu power under Sections 7(2) and 9(3)(a) of the Act. Accordingly, I exercise my power and initiate suo motu proceedings', he said.
New Indian Express
25-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Treading the green path: Delhi man's solo mission to beautify Madikeri
MADIKERI: Astroll on a quaint street near Government Junior College in Madikeri introduces one to a beautification project where flower pots hang on retaining walls of public spaces. In between the flower pots, dustbins are also placed for public use. This beautification project was not taken up by the City Municipal Council or any other government body; it is the effort of an individual from Delhi who moved into the city two years ago in search of clean air. Piyush Agarwal has grand plans to make Madikeri one of the quaintest cities to live in. Piyush, who started on a road trip across India in search of a place with clean and pure air to lead a retired life, says, 'Madikeri fit the bill the best for my retired life.' So, what made him undertake the journey from Delhi to Madikeri? 'I was in search of a place with a low Air Quality Index (AQI), which I wanted to make my home,' he says. The businessman and entrepreneur developed bouts of cough due to high air pollution in Delhi. 'I had difficulty breathing and developed cough bouts. COVID happened, and my business suffered a bit. That is when I decided that Delhi was not the place I wanted to live in, and it was time for me to get out,' he shares. Road trip across 27 states He set off on a road trip across India, travelling from East coast to West coast, the AQI meter as his travel buddy. He checked the air quality in every place he visited. Ooty, Chikkamagaluru, Goa, Kerala, Kanyakumari – Piyush travelled the length and breadth of India and covered 27 of 29 states; this was in 2022. 'I had a few parameters in mind. While air quality was the priority, the other parameters included the kind of people, a not-so-large city, greenery. And Madikeri fit the bill the best,' he explains. His travel experience also revealed that the majority of the country is polluted, as air quality level across several regions is above 50. 'Madikeri had an AQI level of 16, and became my ideal place to settle down for a retired life. Kodagu is among the best districts and nowhere in the country can you find such forests with abundant greenery. Even coffee cultivation is done using shade trees,' he opines.
The Hindu
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
MLA inaugurates water plants in Yadgir
Yadgir MLA Channareddy Patil Tunnur has said that action will be taken to establish reverse osmosis plants in wards under City Municipal Council limits in a phased manner. He was addressing a gathering after inaugurating reverse osmosis plants at Matamanikyashwari Colony and Aziz Colony in the city on Monday. 'Each such plant has come up at a cost of ₹13.95 lakh which was released under Micro Project by the Kalyan Karnataka Regional Development Board (KKRDB). The State government has taken steps to mitigate drinking water crisis in the city. The authorities concerned should maintain the water plant properly and provide potable water to the people,' Mr. Tunnur said. CMC Chairperson Kumari Lalita Anpur, Vice-Chairperson Rukiya Begam, corporators Swamidev Dasankeri and Ganesh Duppalli and others were present.
