KRRS threatens stir against UPCL

May 5, 2012

Udupi, May 5: Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) Udupi district president Vijay Kumar Hedge threatened to go on stern agitation if government fails to take action against coal based Udupi Power Corporation Limited (UPCL) thermal power plant within 45 days.

Speaking to media persons here on Friday, he said the report by expert committee appointed to go through the consequences of UPCL plant over environment, human beings and livestock in the surrounding areas has categorically stated that the thermal plant proves to be hazardous. The committee was initiated under the leadership of Pejawar mutt seer Sri Vishweshatheertha Swamiji. The plant at any cost is not suitable for this area and the report has called for immediate rectification. However, government is unwilling to take any measures against the thermal power plant. The cost of shifting the plant may not exceed Rs 80 to Rs 100 crores. This amount is too less comparing the huge loss that might incur in future owing to the functioning of the plant. It will be detrimental to the environment and people in the area, he added.

The government had dismissed two of the experts in the committee Dr Y B Ramakrishna and Dr T V Ramachandra for coming out with interim report before media. However, these two scientists continued working and were able to bring out the report independently as directed by Pejawar seer. Hegde said the Company who has taken all necessary measures to rectify the problems of fly ash and effluent water as claimed by environment department is far from truth. The Company has installed drift eliminator instead of desalinated plant. However, drift eliminator is introduced in the second unit and the first unit continues to be unsafe, he added.

Problems pertaining to fly ashes and effluent water have no permanent remedy. The ashes exhorted through chimneys will be forced into 2,000 feet height and will be dispersed into 40 to 50 kms radius in the surrounding area. It has already proved disastrous to the agriculture and horticulture growths and continues to be so.

Besides, the chemicals used for FGD and other sorts of petrochemical wastes will totally contaminate the ground water sources. Ashes will be washed off into River Shambavi during monsoon and the river water will be polluted. Marine resources in the sea has been already massively affected owing to the discharge of affluent water, he said and urged government to take action against the Company in the interest of the life of people residing in the areas. He also informed that Udupi-Chikmagalur MP Jayaprakash Hedge has assured to hold talks with District Commissioner over the issue within a week.

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No relief for Siddaramaiah in MUDA case as HC junks plea against Governor's sanction

News Network

September 24,2024

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday dismissed the petition filed by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah against Governor Thawarchand Gehlot's decision to sanction the complaint and investigation against him in the alleged Mysore Urban Development Authority (MUDA) scam case.

Justice M Nagaprasanna said the facts narrated in the petition would undoubtedly require an investigation.

The court has also said that the Governor's order approving sanction to investigate against Siddaramaiah under section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act does not suffer from application of mind, instead has abundance of application of mind.

Meanwhile, the court rejected the request made by senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi to stay the order of the court. The court has vacated the interim order passed on August 19. In the interim order the trial court was directed not to take any precipitative action against Siddaramaiah. On August 17, Governor had approved sanction under section 17 A of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 218 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita ( BNSS), citing three applications.

The court said the private complainants were justified in registering the complaint and seeking approval from the governor.

Insofar as private complainants seeking sanction under section 17A, the court said the provision nowhere requires only a police officer to seek sanction from a competent authority. The court further said it is in fact the duty of the private complainants to seek such approval.

Earlier, The High Court had completed its hearing in the case on September 12, and reserved its orders. It had also directed a special court in Bengaluru to defer further proceedings and not to take any precipitative action against the Chief Minister.

The case pertains to allegations that compensatory sites were allotted to Siddaramaiah's wife B M Parvathi in an upmarket area in Mysuru that had higher property value as compared to the location of her land that had been "acquired" by MUDA.

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