Study states that 20,000 MW can be generated by using a minimum 5 pc of wind-rich land

Wastelands in Karnataka can generate at least 50,000 MW of wind energy with turbines fitted at a height of 80 metres, according to a study by the Center for Study of Science, Technology and Policy (CSTEP). The study report released on Wednesday also identified Haveri, Chikkaballapur, Hassan, Bijapur and Kolar districts, apart from Bellary, Chamarajnagar and Chitradurga, for having the potential for generation of wind energy.

Street lamps in the villages of the taluk will be lit using solar power, said M S Srinivas Reddy, former vice-president of the Taluk Panchayat.

Inaugurating work on installation of the solar power lamps at Dommasandra on Monday, Reddy said the measure was taken to solve the problem of regular power cuts in rural areas of the taluk. The project is being undertaken using money from the Constituency Development fund. “Solar lamps are being installed at Dommasandra, Basavarajapura, Vajranagenahalli and other villages using Rs 5.75 lakh from the fund,” said Reddy.

Allaying the apprehensions of the people of Kolar in Karnataka, the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd.

The Centre on Tuesday sought to quell protests by locals in Kolar, Karnataka, against reports of earmarking abandoned gold mines of the district for dumping nuclear waste.

Huge quantities of plastic covers, cups seized

Officials led by Kolar City Municipal Council Commissioner Mahendra Kumar on Thursday conducted surprise raids on shops in prominent commercial areas of the city and seized plastic covers and cups of less than 40 micron thickness. Raids were conducted on shops, bakeries, restaurants, godowns and other business establishments situated in Doddapet, Kalamma Temple Street and in front of the new bus stand. Officials seized two tractor-trailer loads of plastic material, which were of less than 40 micron thickness. The officials levied a fine of over Rs 15,000 on eight restaurants and 25 shops for violating the norm.

Several organisations and political outfits in Kolar have strongly opposed the Centre’s decision to dump the spent fuel from the Kudankulam nuclear power plant in Tamil Nadu in the now-defunct Kola

State Federation of Non-government Organisations is on a healthy green mission — planting one crore medicinal sapling by 2014 throughout the State.

Aptly named ‘Vriksha Dasoha ‘ (Distribution of saplings), the programme in association with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board, aims to plant more saplings through schoolchildren in the first phase. Saplings will further be extended to farmers in the second phase. The programme was officially launched at a school here on Wednesday.

An initiative taken up by the district administration along with other departments aims to discourage farmers from cultivating eucalyptus, a water-intensive species, which has adversely affected groundwater level in the region.

Deputy Commissioner D.S. Vishwanath has formulated a plan to encourage farmers to cultivate sandalwood instead of eucalyptus, which would fetch a fair amount of money for the growers. The move would also conserve groundwater in the perennial drought-hit region.

PIL filed in June 2011 sought direction to expedite water project

The district in-charge minister Varthur Prakash, who has been accusing the Union government of obstructing the Yaragol irrigation project, appears to be evading the notice issued by the High Court in a public interest litigation challenging the delay in executing the project. The notice issued by the High Court on three occasions has returned unserved saying that the minister was not available at the Vidhana Soudha.

Bhopal: Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan has directed administration of districts affected by excessive rains to maintain high alert for 24 hours and undertake immediate relief and rescue

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