The Supreme Court-appointed Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on Thursday reiterated its stand that no new mining leases should be granted in Bellary, Tumkur and Chitradurga districts unless rehabilitation plans for the existing leases were executed.

The committee also maintained that the combined iron ore production from the mines should not exceed 30 million metric tonnes. It is imperative that any new mining lease should be considered only after the reclamation and rehabilitation plans (R&R) of the existing mining leases are successfully implemented and based on the existing infrastructure facilities and carrying capacity of the area,

BWSSB denies sewage mixed with drinking water

A one-and-half-year-old boy died on Wednesday night after allegedly consuming contaminated water at Jagjivanram Nagar.The parents of the boy, Chandan, blame the contaminated water he drank for his death. But BWSSB officials have ruled out any chances of sewage water mixing with drinking water supplied to 8th Cross, Venkataswamy Park, Salappa Layout, where the family lives.

Govt agencies among the infringers, says minister

Government agencies along with private individuals and companies have encroached 2,482 acres of forest land worth Rs 7,000 crore in and around Bangalore, Forest Minister C P Yogeeshwara told the Legislative Council on Wednesday.

The State government on Monday termed Tamil Nadu questioning the State’s right to utilise Cauvery water as “illegal” and “inhuman”, and sought the Centre’s intervention to prevent the neighbouring state from raking up the water-sharing issue “unnecessarily”.

“The Supreme Court has repeatedly rejected Tamil Nadu’s interlocutory applications seeking its intervention. But Tamil Nadu has once again filed another application just to provoke us. Such attitude needs to be stopped, the Centre should intervene,” Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda told the Legislative Assembly on Monday.

The residents of Pulakeshinagar took out a protest march demanding that the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board ensure adequate supply of water to the area, on Monday.

The protesters demanded that a ground-level reservoir (GLR) and a pumphouse be constructed to meet the demand for water in Muneshwara ward, Devarajeevanahalli, SK Garden, Kushalnagar, Sagaipuram and Kavalbyrasandra.

Installing rainwater harvesting (RWH) system in buildings seems to be just another Government order for people in the City, instead of being a social responsibility. Although the initial deadline (December 31, 2011) to install the RWH systems evoked quick response from residents, with many booking filters with dealers/plumbers, it fizzled out once the deadline was extended to March 31, 2012.

The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has planned to add 700 Tata BS4 buses by March 31, but so far managed only 263.

According to BMTC managing director K R Sreenivas, there has been a delay in supply of the buses from Tata. “Since BS4 uses a new technology, the suppliers have not been able to manufacture in the numbers we require,” he said.

Glory of City’s largest lake far from being restored; Rs 1.91 crore goes down the drain

Despite spending Rs 1.91 crore, the rejuvenation of the Bellandur lake has been halted midway, states a Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report.
After the State government’s nod, the Bellandur lake, which is spread across 900 acres and is the largest in the City, was to get a facelift.

Sinking borewells is no solution to tackling water crisis. Aggressively advocating rainwater harvesting will help mitigate the scarcity, said Amita Prasad, principal secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR).

Addressing officials on World Water Day, Prasad said the biggest problem faced by the Department of Panchayat Raj and Rural Development was not effectively managing water wealth. Water quality and coverage should be the priority. Sinking of borewells should be stopped, she said.

Diesel will be less taxing on your pockets as it will be cheaper by 50 paise per litre from April 1. But, get ready to pay more for cigarettes, beedies and other tobacco products.

Gold, noble metals, precious and semi-precious stones will cost less with the State government deciding to reverse the one per cent hike in VAT effected last year.