Karnataka under flood threat, normal life thrown out of gear

Bengaluru, Oct 21 : Parts of North Karnataka were reeling under a threat of floods and normal life is thrown out of gear due to heavy rain lashing out since last two days under the influence of depression.

A Yellow alert has been sounded in Karnataka, based on an IMD warning about the possibility of rain continuing for the next 48 hours and fishermen in coastal belt have been warned against venturing into see for fishing as wind is blowing above 45 km per hour.

This was for the third time since April, when the North Karnataka region has come under a flood threat after delayed entry of South West Monsoon, which claimed more than 90 lives in its first entry, due to heavy discharge from Reservoirs in Maharashtra, which received heavy rain and forced releasing water from Koyna and other major reservoirs.

Krishna river is in spate due to heavy rain. Belagavi District was the worst affected this time as water has entered low lying areas and people were forced to sleepless nights as there had been no let off since Saturday night.

According to the Meteorological department, 58.1 mm rain had been reported in Belgavi city since the last 24 hours, ending at 8 am.

Rainfall was in excess of 66 per cent in October. Three houses collapsed in Shahpur, a suburb in the city, The Malaprabha river and some nallahs are overflowing.
Many parked vehicles washed away on Saturday evening due to heavy rain at Sankeswar and some vehicles found near the bridge on Monday morning.The National Highway 4 was closed for vehicular movement at night, Belagavi-Goa route also got affected near Sankarpet (Jamboti –Goa road), due to landslide.

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‘Have letter, next step is...’: MUDA on Siddaramaiah’s wife’s offer to return plots

News Network

October 1,2024

Mysuru: The Mysuru land authority at the centre of a financial and political storm - involving Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and alleged losses of ₹ 45 crore to the state - has received an offer of restitution from his wife, the urban development body's Commissioner, AN Raghunandan said.

"I am in possession of a letter written by Siddaramaiah's wife regarding her intention to return 14 plots (of land). The Chief Minister's son, Yatindra Siddaramaiah, came to our office and delivered the letter. We will take legal advice for the next step..." he told reporters in Mysuru.

Mr Raghunandan also confirmed anti-corruption officials from the city's Lokayukta branch had written seeking cooperation in its inquiry into the charges against the Chief Minister.

He said the Mysuru Urban Development Authority, or MUDA, "will cooperate with the investigation".

The Enforcement Directorate, however, have not reached out as yet, Mr Raghunandan said. The ED, a federal agency, has filed a money laundering case against Siddaramaiah.

There have also been calls for the CBI, another federal agency, to investigate charges against the Chief Minister, but that appears unlikely now given the Karnataka government has withdrawn general consent for its operations in the state. Law Minister HK Patil made the announcement last week.

He ruled out any link with demands for the Chief Minister to be investigated by the CBI, which reports to the BJP-led central government and the ruling Congress and other opposition parties have claimed is being used by that party to target rival leaders, particularly before elections.

On Monday - three days after the Lokayukta filed a case against the Chief Minister, and hours after the ED launched its probe- Siddaramaiah's wife said she had planned to give up the land earlier but was advised against it the allegations against her husband are "politically motivated".

But now, she said, she had made up her mind as "no house, plot, or wealth is more important than my husband's honor, dignity, and peace of mind". She also said the decision was hers alone; "... I am not aware of my husband's opinion on this matter, nor do I concern myself with what my son thinks".

And, in a comment seen as a calculated swipe at the opposition BJP, which is leading calls for the Chief Minister's resignation, his wife also made an emotional appeal to "all political parties and the media" to "please not drag women of political families into the controversy to settle political scores".

Investigative action against the Chief Minister follows the Karnataka High Court quashing a challenge to Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot's order sanctioning Siddaramaiah's prosecution.

Subsequently a trial court ordered framing of charges and directed the Lokayukta to complete the investigation within three months. The ED case was filed based on the Lokayukta FIR.

Siddaramaiah faces an inquiry into claims Parvathi was allotted 14 plots of land in an upmarket Mysuru area as compensation for land elsewhere - holding a far lower value - taken for infrastructure projects.

The Chief Minister has denied all charges and refused calls to resign.

He has been backed by the Congress and his deputy, DK Shivakumar, who is also the state unit boss, and also by members of his cabinet, including IT Minister Priyank Kharge. However, some within the Congress also want him to quit, such as former Assembly Speaker KB Koliwad.

"I will fight. I am not afraid of anything. We are ready to face the investigation. I will fight this legally," he said last week after the High Court had quashed his challenge to the Governor's sanction.

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