Latest news with #ex-Maharashtra
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
CM's oppn to rise of Almatti dam height sparks row
Vijayapura: CM Devendra Fadnavis' opposition to the proposed increase in height of Almatti dam has reignited tensions between Maharashtra and Karnataka over the Krishna river water. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It comes even as Karnataka struggles to complete the long-pending Upper Krishna Project Phase-2. In a letter to Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Fadnavis objected to raising the dam's height from 519 m to 524 m, claiming it would flood upstream areas of Sangli and Kolhapur in Maharashtra. However, his objections have been contested after revelations that a high-level expert committee appointed by Maharashtra govt in 2020 had found no basis for such apprehensions. The seven-member panel, led by irrigation expert and ex-Maharashtra principal secretary Nandakumar Vadnere, had studied flood patterns and the river basin across both states before submitting its findings. The committee's report, submitted to then CM Uddhav Thackeray, concluded the recurring floods in Sangli and Kolhapur were not linked to water storage in Almatti and Hipparagi reservoirs. Instead, the report blamed "encroachment in the river basin and illegal, unscientific construction of buildings in Sangli and Kolhapur" as primary causes. Other members of the committee included Sanjay Ghanekar, R R Pawar, Pradeep Purandare, Atul Kapole, N S Khare and Dhairyasheel Pawar. During their study, the committee members visited locations including Almatti dam and Hipparagi reservoir, where Karnataka officials briefed them on water storage and flood-prevention measures. Maharashtra's stand marks the first formal objection since the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal delivered its final verdict in 2013, allocating 173 tmcft of Krishna water to Karnataka.
India Today
21-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Not a murderer, terrorist: Top court grants bail to ex-IAS trainee Puja Khedkar
The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) trainee officer Puja Khedkar, who is accused of forging documents and allegedly misusing the OBC non-creamy layer quota to gain eligibility for the 2022 Civil Services entrance relief to Khedkar, the Supreme Court observed that she is "not a drug lord or a terrorist," while the Delhi Police strongly opposed the anticipatory bail, stating that she was not cooperating with the is not a NDPS offender. You should have a system or a software. You complete the investigation. She has lost everything and will not get a job anywhere," the Supreme Court observed, while pointing out that the Delhi High Court "ought to have granted bail to the petitioner"."Bearing in mind the facts and circumstances of the case, this is a fit case where the Delhi High Court ought to have granted bail to the petitioner," the bench stated.A criminal case was registered against Khedkar for allegedly falsifying and misrepresenting his family's income status and other details while sitting for the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) the UPSC cancelled her selection after finding her guilty of forging documents. The commission further barred Khedkar for life from appearing for the prestigious exam. A month later, the Centre relieved her of all fell in the eye of the storm in June last year when Pune Collector Suhas Diwase sent a letter to Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, detailing the trainee officer's demand to be provided with a car, staff and office. Following the row, Khedkar was transferred to after, Khedkar's selection process came under scrutiny as she had allegedly forged documents to seek relaxations under the OBC and persons with disabilities quotas. It later surfaced that Khedkar's father, an ex-Maharashtra government officer, owned property worth Rs 40 crore, making her non-eligible for the OBC non-creamy Watch
