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New Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Uttarakhand steps up vigilance in jails to curb radicalisation
DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand authorities are set to implement stringent measures to curb the growing threat of radicalization within the state's prison system. The move involves a comprehensive identification and evaluation process of inmates across all jails. Inmates found promoting extremist ideologies will be segregated and placed under strict surveillance. The move comes as the state's Home Department begins implementing central government directives aimed at tackling the rising influence of radical elements in correctional facilities. Confirming the development, Home Secretary Shailesh Bagoli said, 'We have received guidelines from the Central Government in this regard. Based on these, necessary instructions are being dispatched to all jails for immediate action.' Uttarakhand has 11 jails housing around 6,300 inmates, including 2,400 convicts and the rest undertrials. Jail officials have observed a surge in extremist ideologies among inmates in recent times, which they believe poses a serious threat. Authorities say radicalization often manifests through feelings of isolation, violent tendencies, and anti-social behaviour. Concerns have been raised about the possibility of inmates conspiring to harm staff, fellow prisoners, or coordinating activities from inside jail. Officials also worry that violent inmates may influence vulnerable individuals. Authorities say radicalization often manifests as isolation, violent tendencies, and anti-social behaviour. Concerns have been raised about the possibility of inmates conspiring to harm staff, fellow prisoners, or coordinating activities from inside jail. Officials also worry that violent inmates may influence vulnerable individuals. To tackle the issue, the Centre has recommended rehabilitation programmes involving counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), and participation from scholars and social workers. Other recommendations include specialized training for prison staff, improved family-inmate communication, heightened security, and enhanced monitoring, data management of prisoners and classified monitoring of inmates. Uttarakhand's DIG (Jails) Dadhi Ram Maurya told TNIE, 'Given that jails are inherently crowded environments, instructions have been received to closely monitor inmates who are likely to incite against the system.' He added that strict surveillance is also maintained over the visitors and family members of such inmates.
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
Only 44,570 acres to be irrigated under Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme this kharif season
HYDERABAD: Now, it's official. Only 44,570 acres will be irrigated under the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS) this Kharif season, all due to lack of sufficient water. The minutes of the first meeting of the State Level Committee for Integrated Water Planning and Management (SCIWAM) held on July 11, accessed by TNIE on Wednesday, revealed that out of four balancing reservoirs under Kaleshwaram project, Mallannasagar and Kondapochammasagar have sufficient storage for irrigation. In view of this, an action plan proposed by the chief engineer, Gajwel under these two balancing reservoirs has been accepted and recommended by the committee. However, ayacut proposed under Annapurna and Ranganayakasagar balancing reservoirs, where there is a scarcity of water, will be reviewed after inflows are received at Yellampally and Mid Manair projects. The Vanakalam action plan proposed by the chief engineer, Ramagundam in respect of Boggulavagu is accepted subject to realisation of water. The officials proposed 3,200 acres of ayacut under Boggulavagu. Due to scarcity of water, the Vanakalam action plan proposed by the chief engineer (Irrigation), Ramagundam under SYP and SRSP above LMD and Manthani LIS will be reviewed after receiving sufficient inflows. The officials proposed 2,05,320 acres under SRSP (above LMD) and 10,000 acres under Manthani Lift Irrigation Scheme. In Ghanpur Anicut and Singur project too, the proposed ayacut will be reviewed after sufficient inflows reach Singur. The officials have proposed to irrigate 21,625 acres under Ghanpur Anicut. In Gollavagu, Ralivagu, Nilwai and NTR Sagar projects, and Sadarmatt, Gaddenavagu and SRSP too, the Vanakalam action plan proposed by the chief engineer, Mancherial will be reviewed after receiving sufficient inflows. However, the SCIWAM meeting accepted 32,662 acres of ayacut proposed under the Nizamsagar project. The chief engineer, Kamareddy requested that 3 tmcft of water be supplemented from Kondapochamma to Nizamsagar in case of low inflows into Nizamsagar. The committee informed that supplementation will be possible only when sufficient inflows are received at SYP and all irrigation proposals under all balancing reservoirs in Kaleshwaram up to Kondapochamma are served.
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- General
- New Indian Express
The pits? Rainwater rule is a runoff in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: As Hyderabad grapples with water shortages and drying borewells, rainwater harvesting remains largely ignored, despite clear mandates from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). Between 2020 and 2025, GHMC issued 69,575 building permits. Of these, 23,239 required rainwater harvesting structures (RWHS), yet only 33% complied. In 2024–25 alone, just 4,578 out of 11,509 approved buildings had soak pits. Only 2,036 received occupancy certificates, even though RWHS completion is mandatory. Water sustainability expert Kalpana Ramesh, founder of The Rainwater Project, attributed this to apathy and poor enforcement. 'Even large gated communities let lakhs of litres flow into drains. A 1,000 sq. ft terrace can harvest one lakh litres a year,' she told TNIE, adding that instead of harvesting, crores are spent on deep borewells tapping contaminated, non-renewable groundwater. She warned that rampant concrete construction blocks natural percolation, worsening the crisis. Conservationists are now demanding a zero-discharge policy, with penalties for diverting rainwater into stormwater drains (SWDs). 'If we're fined for sewage violations, why not for wasting clean rainwater?' Kalpana asked, noting that the lost water contributes to urban flooding. Follow-up inspections are lacking, too. Srinivasa Rao, general secretary of the United Federation of Resident Welfare Associations, said soak pits are often dismantled or repurposed as parking or landscaped areas. He suggested levying a 25% property tax penalty if RWHS is missing during random inspections. 'Guidelines alone don't help; we need enforcement,' he told TNIE. The urgency is growing. Many borewells in the city and outskirts went dry this summer, forcing residents to rely on costly water tankers. GHMC has issued advisories urging homeowners without soak pits to construct them immediately. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) has deployed geologists to help design recharge systems as the monsoon arrives. Kalpana emphasised that Hyderabad receives enough rain. 'The problem is runoff, not shortage. If you're not harvesting rainwater or recycling greywater, you're part of the problem,' she said. Although the Water, Land and Trees Act (WALTA) mandates RWHS for properties over 200 sq. metres, weak enforcement renders it toothless. Notices to be issued to 16K households that failed to construct RWH pits: HMWSSB Hyderabad: HMWSSB has decided to issue notices to 16,000 households for failing to construct Rainwater Harvesting Structures (RWHS). So far, with the help of NGOs, 12,000 water harvesting pits have already been constructed and maintained. HMWSSB managing director K Ashok Reddy explained that the recent deficiency in rainfall has caused groundwater levels to decline in many areas, resulting in a steady increase in water tanker requests. To address this, RWHS are now mandatory for all households with plots larger than 300 square yards and recommended for those above 200 square yards. Following the directives of Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, HMWSSB has initiated a three-month awareness campaign. Ashok Reddy further informed that water tankers are being delivered within 24 hours of booking. In summer, 11,000 tankers were delivered daily; at present, the demand stands at 8,500 tankers per day.
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Dalit textile worker dies by suicide in Tiruppur after employer's threats over alleged theft
TIRUPPUR: A 39-year-old dalit knitwear company employee in Tiruppur killed himself allegedly after he got embroiled in a suspected theft at his workplace. The city police has ordered a detailed probe into the death after his family claimed the company owner threatened and attacked him over the missing of fabric worth Rs 40 lakh from the company. K Dhayalan of Valayankadu in Tiruppur, who was a fabric in-charge in a knitwear company in Kumar Nagar, took own life by consuming poison on Tuesday night, a week after a failed similar bid. He had returned home after treatment following the first poisoning attempt only three days earlier. The Anupparpalayam police have registered a case. The company management had fired him from his job last month after he was blamed for the theft of fabric. Thereafter, the company owner forced him to part with 2.25 cents of land belonging to his family in Pongalur, said police sources. On July 8, Dhayalan's wife Gomathi filed a complaint at the Tiruppur city police commissioner's office claiming the company owner had called Dhayalan in person on July 3 and attacked him. "They continue to threaten us even after we gave up our land. Due to this, Dayalin attempted suicide by consuming poison on July 5, and the police should take appropriate action in this regard," the complaint stated. However, allegedly, the police did not take any action on the complaint, she stated. Speaking to TNIE, S Rajendran, Commissioner of Police, said, "The deceased belonged to a Scheduled Caste community. So I have ordered a detailed investigation into this matter. Appropriate action will definitely be taken against the owners of the knitwear company if the investigation finds any wrongdoing." Dhayalan is survived by his wife Gomathi and a seven-year-old daughter. (If you are having suicidal thoughts, or are worried about a friend or need emotional support, someone is always there to listen. Call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050, Tele Manas - 14416 (available 24x7) or iCall, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences' helpline - 02225521111, which is available Monday to Saturday from 8 am to 10 pm.)
New Indian Express
4 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Farmers' protest over poor prices leads to sesame auction being called off in Pennagaram
DHARMAPURI: The sesame auction, which was under way at the Pennagaram regulated market run by the agriculture department, was cancelled midway after farmers staged a protest, blocking the Dharmapuri-Pennagaram road, condemning poor prices. On Wednesday, the regulated market in Pennagaram hosted its first seasonal auction, where over 120 farmers in the region participated. A total of 193 lots (each 75 kg) were put up for auction, and prices were determined at Rs 80 (minimum) and Rs 114 (maximum). However, most locally produced sesame seeds only fetched prices between Rs 80-85. Condemning low prices, farmers refused to sell their produce and staged a protest alleging foul play. Speaking to TNIE, R Rajendiran, a farmer from Pennagaram, said, "The prices are being driven down by traders and officials are encouraging this. Representatives from private 'mandis' and traders are holding discussions prior to the auction and fixing prices. We feel the auction is not transparent, so what is the point?" Another farmer, S Sureshkumar said, "The price we got was only Rs 80/kg, in other districts a kg is sold between Rs 110-120 per kg. We feel like we are being scammed. Only one or two farmers got decent prices. Therefore, we are dissatisfied with the proceedings. We need at least a minimum of Rs 95 per kg to reap profits. Therefore, we staged a protest." Officials in the regulated market said, "Farmers are aggrieved by the poor pricing and the auction has been cancelled. We will make an announcement on the next auction at a later date". However, officials did not respond to the farmers' allegation of an unfair auction. The protest lasted for about two hours and DSP J Sabapathi held talks with the protestors and assured a fair auction at a later date, following which farmers gave up the protest.
