The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Karnataka government for its failure to check large-scale illegal export of iron ore from Belekeri port in Karwar district.
A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Aftab Alam also indicated that it may direct CBI probe into the illegal export of 35 lakh metric tonnes of iron ore and eight lakh metric tonnes of seized mineral from the port. The Bench directed the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) to devise ways to “segregate” the case relating to illegal export in a manner which could speed up the investigation leading to early “conviction” of those guilty within six months.
Fifty per cent of the power generated at the proposed units 5 and 6 in the Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant - of 700 megawatt (MW) each - would be supplied to the State, J P Gupta, the station director, has said.
He told mediapersons on Monday that the Centre had approved the construction of the two units and the clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest was awaited.
Those displaced by the Seabird naval project are fighting a legal battle for 30 years
Poor land owners in the taluk, who parted with their land for Asia’s biggest naval base, ‘INS Kadamba’ (Seabird), have been waging a protracted legal battle for over three decades for fair compensation.
Many factors associated with modern society have combined to produce a burgeoning in water demand. This demand can be realized only through efficient management of water sources and supply systems. To achieve sustainable water supply the beneficiary communities should be made to maintain the facilities created in the rural areas.
KSPCB issued show cause notices to 12 of its officials in three districts on September 22, as to why action should not be initiated against them, with the Lokayukta report on illegal mining pointing fingers at the Board too.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa today said 20 squads are on the job to check illegal mining of iron ore and exports and rejected Opposition criticism that there is no let-up in the unlawful activity.
"13 joint squads have been activated. They are keeping a 24-hour vigil and discharging their duties," he told reporters here after a review meeting on the issue.
Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Thursday said the Centre is free to conduct inquiry into missing of seized iron ore from Belekere port yard in Karwar district.
He was reacting to the opposition leaders demand of conducting the inquiry by central agencies about this incident following the allegation that some of the exporters have shipped out seized iron ore from Belekere port to Pakistan.
National Environmental Appellate Authority, on Tuesday, has brought in a stay order on conditional permit issued by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for the Hanakona thermal power station.
The Karnataka government has released Rs. 200 crore as special grant for road development works in 114 backward taluks, according to Minister for Public Works C.M. Udasi. He told presspersons on Friday that the special grant would be spent only for road works in the backward taluks as roads were bad there. During President's Rule, the administration released Rs. 125 crore for road works in rural areas and the special grant would be an addition to that. The Minister said the State government planned to build toll roads between Bellary-Mangalore and Bellary-Karwar.
