The High Court on Monday disposed of a petition against the ongoing Upper Bhadra project to supply water to Kolar and Tumkur districts.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice B V Nagarathna directed that the petition by Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and others be transferred to the National Green tribunal (NGT).
TN govt uses 120-year-old pact to stall tank renewal project
The Karnataka government believes the Tamil Nadu government might have thrown a spoke in its plans for a tank irrigation project, using a 120-year-old agreement between the erstwhile governments of Mysore and Madras. A committee, which clears Central government-funded projects, rejected the State government’s proposal to use sewage water generated in Bangalore to fill up dried tanks in Chikkaballapur and Hoskote under a Central irrigation programme. The Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) said no to using sewage water from the City to fill up the dried tanks under the Centre’s Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme because of a hitherto unknown agreement signed on February 18, 1892, between Mysore and Madras.
The move will have impact on Bhadra Reserve Forest
The project of pumping water from Hebbe reservoir to Madagakere and 36 other lakes is fuelling the possibility of water crisis arising in Bhadra Reserve Forest area. Various environmental organisations, talking about this possibility have said that the Government has given its nod to the said project of Rs 140 crore wherein 1.45 TMC water will be utilised. Out of the said quantity 0.75 TMC water will be pumped to Madagakere while the remaining 0.70 TMC will be supplied to 36 lakes in the taluk.
Many serve as daily wage workers for decades and retire without benefits
People who protect wild animals from poachers in the Bhadra Tiger Reserve lead an insecure life. Forest guards, who suffer disabilities in the line of duty, work for a paltry sum as salary and are deprived of service security.
In a decision that is bound to antagonise conservation scientists, the State Forest Department has clamped down on field research in tiger reserves and will neither renew nor grant fresh permits to enter these forests.
The State's five tiger reserves — Bandipur, Nagarahole, Anshi-Dandeli, Bhadra and B.R. Hills — will no longer be accessible for field research, according to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests B.K. Singh.
Unsustainable harvesting and pollution of waterbodies may force some freshwater molluscs in the Western Ghats region into extinction or throw up increased risks for their survival in the near futur
Chikmagalur, The 12-year old tiger which was captured by the forest officials recently from a plantation at Shikaripura, was released to Bhadra Reserve Forest at Hipla on Saturday, in the presence of Minister for Forest and Environment Jairam Ramesh.
The forest officials releasing the 12-year-old male tiger captured near Shikaripura, back to the forest near Hipla in Bhadra Reserve forest area
Western Ghats Task Force (WGTF) Chairman Anatha Hegde Ashisara has urged the Centre to implement special programmes to protect rivers and lakes in South India.
He was speaking after inaugurating the river source protection campaign organised by the WGTF in association with the Forest Department and Sumukha Seva Prathishtana.
A complaint has been filed with the State Human Rights Commission to halt the ongoing work of Upper Bhadra project, which will harm the farmers of Tarikere taluk, said former MLA B R Neelakantappa.
Addressing a press meet, he said revenue officials have not given permission for the work. However, the work is being carried out. A judicial probe should be ordered into the work, he demanded.
