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News18
19 hours ago
- Automotive
- News18
Bengaluru Launches Solar EV Hub With 23 Charging Points And Battery Reuse Tech
Last Updated: The construction of an EV charging hub near the airport has been done keeping in mind the cab drivers and the public who use EVs to travel between the airport and the city. A solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station was unveiled near the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on June 2. Touted as the first of its kind, the solar energy is stored in old car batteries at this EV charging station. The construction of an EV charging hub near the airport has been specifically done keeping in mind thousands of cab drivers and the general public who use EVs to travel between the airport and the city. Energy Minister KJ George inaugurated the facility in the presence of Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, BESCOM Managing Director Dr N Shivashankar, B.A.S., and other officials. Speaking at the event, the energy minister said that this is the first EV station in India to be powered by second-life batteries. 'This large-scale EV charging hub, developed through a partnership between Bangalore Electricity Supply Company (Bescom) and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), can charge 23 vehicles simultaneously. At this station, solar energy is stored in old car batteries. Solar power generated during the day is stored using this battery system and supplied to electric vehicles around the clock," he explained. The energy minister added that the Karnataka government is fully committed to supporting the growing demand for Electric vehicles in the state and expanding charging stations and related infrastructure. 'Karnataka's EV policy further strengthens this commitment. The newly inaugurated EV charging station will greatly benefit cab drivers and the general public using electric vehicles," he said. The charging hub includes a 45-kilowatt solar power system and 100 KWH second-life battery storage capacity. Of the 23 charging points, 18 have fast-charging points and five have slow chargers. Managing Director of Bescom, N. Shivashankar, claimed that this EV station is the first in the country to provide 24/7 EV charging facilities. Revenue Minister Krishna Byregowda said, 'It's a matter of pride that a new EV charging station has come up near Bengaluru airport, benefiting cab drivers and EV users. With around 10,000 cabs operating daily—many of them electric—this facility shows Karnataka's continued leadership in EV initiatives," reported Money Control. As per data from the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under the Union Ministry of Power, Karnataka is the first Indian state to introduce an EV policy in 2017. Currently, it is at the forefront of EV infrastructure in the country, with a total of 5,880 charging stations across the state. Of these, around 4,462 EV charging stations are located in the Bengaluru urban district. Karnataka is followed by Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Karnataka achieves drastic reduction in ‘overdue' cases before revenue courts: Minister
Karnataka has now become a model for the country in terms of handling revenue disputes as the State has drastically reduced the number of 'overdue' cases, which have been pending beyond deadline, before the courts of tahsildars and Assistant Commissioners. This has resulted in a significant social impact through reduction in the burden of litigation, financial expenses, and harassment for farmers as over 95% of such disposed cases have attained legal finality without being taken before either higher revenue courts or civil courts. The rules stipulate that disputes before the tahsildars' courts should be disposed of within three months, while the next higher authority of Assistant Commissioners' courts should dispose of such cases within a maximum of six months. However, the number of overdue cases before these courts have been huge across the country. Drastic reduction Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda pointed out that Karnataka had 10,774 overdue cases before the courts of tahsildars and 60,000 before the courts of Assistant Commissioners when he took over the Department in 2023. 'We have managed to reduce them to below 400 in tahsildars' courts and 24,000 in the Assistant Commissioners' courts,' he said. The Minister told The Hindu that it was possible owing to special focus given through regular and real-time monitoring as well as reviews regarding pendency. All cases had been onboarded to the Revenue Court Case Monitoring System (RCCMS), which is a web application to track ongoing cases. The Revenue Department has initiated action against those failing to onboard the pending cases to RCCMS and those delaying the disposal of cases. Officials have been told to issue even orders regarding cases through RCCMs. Social impact The reduction in the pendency of cases has resulted in a significant social impact as this has drastically reduced the number of cases appealed before higher revenue authorities or taken to courts, Mr. Gowda said, while pointing out that only 3% to 5% of the cases have gone for an appeal after being disposed by the tahsildars' courts. 'Farmers can now focus on their work instead of repeatedly visiting the revenue offices,' he observed. According to him, the Centre has acknowledged Karnataka's achievement during various official meetings, while a few States have deputed their teams to Karnataka to learn from its experiment. End-to-end integration: Also, the Revenue Department has ensured end-to-end digital integration of revenue court management system for the first time in the country that has brought in transparency, accountability, and swift action. Under this system, the matter automatically goes before the revenue courts concerned if the aggrieved parties raise objections. This system enables parties concerned to view the status of the case online. The revenue courts will have to issue the orders in digital format that would be automatically effected in RTCs. The department has introduced a system of 'auto mutation' under which the changes in RTCs (other than ownership change) are effected automatically without the need for submitting any applications or making physical visits to offices with respect to nine areas. 'We have now reduced the time required for effecting changes in land records in these cases from the earlier system of weeks to just 12 hours,' the Minister said. Similarly, in case of ownership change involving registered documents, there is a need for seven days' notice period while those with unregistered documents need a notice period of 15 days. In both the cases, the changes will be effected in two days after the completion of the notice period.
Deccan Herald
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Deccan Herald
Caste census: Siddaramaiah cheers, but Centre's move may impact fate of Karnataka's survey
Bengaluru: The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government will seek political validation of its Social & Educational Survey in the Centre's decision to enumerate castes in the Census, but the federal move threatens the viability of the 2015 exercise, whose findings are now 10 years Minister Siddaramaiah quickly welcomed the Centre's decision.'In Karnataka, we did not just conduct a caste census — we also gathered data on the social, economic and educational status of communities,' Siddaramaiah said in a statement. 'Based on this data, we have taken steps to revise and expand the current reservation policy. I hope the Union government will now follow through with this process as well.'.Explained | What is a Caste Census? Its history, politics, and significance said his government has already taken steps to breach the 50% reservation ceiling based on the 2015 survey's Centre's decision, however, may revive pressure on Siddaramaiah to junk the 2015 survey's findings. The survey report is awaiting a Cabinet decision. Several communities, including the 'dominant' Lingayats and Vokkaligas, have opposed the 2015 survey findings. They contend that their numbers have been 'undercounted'.'We are sure to face the argument that the numbers are now 10 years old, and that we should go with the caste-wise numbers in the census,' a person close to Siddaramaiah in the government Minister Krishna Byre Gowda told DH that the government does expect a debate on the impact the Centre's decision would have on the Social & Educational Survey. 'But the Centre hasn't said when the census would happen. Since (enumerating castes) is a novel exercise for many states, it could end up prolonging the date of the census,' he govt's caste survey announcement in already delayed population census gives no Cabinet is slated to meet on May 9. However, there is no clarity on whether or not the survey will come up for discussion. 'It (caste census) was to be discussed at a Cabinet meeting on May 2, which isn't happening. The Cabinet meeting on May 9 is a regular one,' Home Minister G Parameshwara held an informal discussion on Tuesday with his confidants on the caste census. 'It was informally suggested that the 2015 data should be put up for verification at the gram panchayat-level so that corrections can be made,' a source all eyes are on his government, Siddaramaiah would look to make the most of the Centre's decision. 'For years, the BJP and its governments attacked the idea of a caste census, calling it divisive and a threat to Hindu unity,' he said. 'That they now recognise its social importance is a welcome shift.'
New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Karnataka to confiscate illegal layouts, launch digital land reforms after SC order, says state revenue minister
BENGALURU: Following Supreme Court directions, the Karnataka government is all set to crack the whip on illegal residential layouts by confiscating them. On December 17, 2024, the Supreme Court had said unauthorised constructions cannot be legitimised merely due to administrative delays, passage of time or monetary investment. Post-construction violations too should trigger swift corrective action, including demolition of the illegal part and penalties for erring officials, the court stated. On Friday, Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda said the order is applicable to only those layouts coming up now and in the future. 'All DCs have been instructed to confiscate unauthorised layouts as the Supreme Court has cracked the whip against state governments. CM Siddaramaiah has also instructed us,' he said. 'There are many violations. Layouts have been built on agricultural lands and roads are not laid as per guidelines. This cannot be tolerated,' he stressed. On issuing title deeds to families living in hamlets such as 'hadis', 'tandas' or 'hattis', he said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will hand over documents to one lakh such families in Hospet on May 20, marking two years of Congress government. Digital title deeds will be issued by converting these settlements into revenue villages, he added. By December 2025, title deeds will be given to two lakh such families, he added. 'Earlier, title deeds were issued on paper. In some cases, they are worthless without the original. Now, the government will register the land through a purchase deed and the local body will also create a 'khath'. Beneficiaries need not run from one government office to another,' he said. The long-standing complaint of farmers on podi, which is sub-division of agriculture land, will be settled, he said. 'Though farmers possess land, they have no documents other than their names on title deeds. A state-wide podi campaign has been launched since last January. Revenue and Survey Departments have jointly conducted a lot of studies and formulated simplified rules to correct podis and issued a notification,' he said. The previous BJP government in its entire five-year tenure, corrected podi of only 5,800 people, but since January, 88,886 such cases have been resolved, he claimed. The revenue department has scanned 18.28 crore pages of original land records out of 80-90 crore pages across the state, to digitise all documents by December-end, he said. People can access them by applying online through 'sakala' soon, he said. Around 1.34 crore survey sketches and 'Aakaar Bands' (consisting of extent of land) of the Survey Department have been digitised, he added. Revenue and Survey Departments will be computerised 99% by next year, he added.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Govt. will ask developers to forfeit illegal layouts on farmlands: Krishna Byre Gowda
Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda on Friday warned the developers that the State government would ask them to forfeit illegally developed layouts on agricultural land. The Minister said many illegal residential layouts were being developed across the State by builders/land developers, without permission from the government. The Deputy Commissioners have been told to put a brake on such layouts, Mr. Gowda said. Noting the Supreme Court ruling on the illegal development of layouts, he said Chief Minister Siddaramaiah too was in favour of curbing these. Land developers have been constructing illegal layouts on farmlands, and this cannot be tolerated, the Minister said, at a press conference here. Mega function The Congress government would complete two years in office soon, and a mega function would be organised on May 20 at Hosapete. Mr. Gowda said the department would provide title deeds to one lakh families residing in tandas across the State to coincide with the occassion. The government brought in a law in 2017 to provide Revenue village status to tandas and hattis. 'We also gave them permanent title deeds. Both the village and their houses were provided legal protection. 1.3 lakh given deeds 'In the last one-and-a-half years, after the Congress came to power, 1.3 lakh people staying in these places have been provided with title deeds under section 94(D) of the land revenue Act. On May 20, we will give title deeds to one lakh people. We plan to give title deeds to two lakh families by the end of this year,' he said. Noting that two to three people have documents for the same property, he said, 'We are providing digital title deeds. There is no question of the original document getting lost.' He said all A and B category land documents are being digitised. Under the Bhoo Suraksha programme, Mr. Gowda said 18.28 crore pages have been scanned till now. By December 2025, all A and B records in taluk offices would be scanned. Appeal to public Appealing to the public to submit online applications, he said all original documents would be scanned and protected permanently. Data entry operators in each taluk have been given training in software for scanning the documents, he said. The Minister said the Chief Minister would lay the foundation stone for 17 Praja Soudhas in the Kalyana Karnataka region on May 5 in Raichur and would inaugurate the Zilla Soudha in Mangaluru on May 16.
