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You are here: Home / 2018 / Archives for March 2018

Archives for March 2018

Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd(BHEL) To Make Space Grade Cells For ISRO

March 23, 2018 by Nasheman

State-run Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) would make space grade lithium-ion (Li-Ion) cells for the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) under technology transfer, the space agency said on Friday.

“We have entered into a technology transfer agreement with BHEL to make space grade Li-Ion cells,” it said in a statement here.

The agreement was signed on Thursday in the presence of ISRO Chairman K. Sivan and BHEL Managing Director Atul Sobti at the space agency headquarters here.

“The Li-Ion batteries are used as power sources for our satellite and launch vehicle applications due to their high energy density, reliability and long cycle life,” noted the statement.

The ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre at Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala has developed the technology to produce space grade Li-Ion cells, demonstrated its performance under testing conditions and established its cycle life characteristics in accelerated mode.

The cells are being used for various satellite and launch vehicle applications.

The technology transfer will enable BHEL to produce space grade Li-Ion cells to meet the country’s space programme requirements.

“The technology can also be adopted to cater to the Li-Ion cell requirement for other national needs,” the statement added.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

We need to resist: Siddaramaiah calls for CMs of southern states to oppose Modi government proposal

March 23, 2018 by Nasheman

Concern and unity are growing in the south over the Modi government’s proposal to divide Central funds on the basis of 2011 census.

A certain unity in opinion is developing among the politicians of the southern states of the country. On Friday, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah tweeted a simple call to action to the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Puducherry: We need to resist.
The point of concern was the Narendra Modi government’s recommendation to the 15th Finance Commission to use the 2011 census to determine how much money the Centre will devolve to different state governments. So far, this has been done on the basis of the 1971 census.
“Center asks 15th FC to use 2011 census data instead of 1971 census used so far to determine devolution of taxes. This will further affect the interests of the south:we need to resist,” read a tweet from Siddaramaiah on Friday morning. He had tagged the Twitter handles of the six other Chief Ministers in his post. He also tagged DMK leader MK Stalin and Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on it.

Filed Under: India

BJP lying factory at work to spin fake news’: Rahul Gandhi hits out at BJP over CA allegations

March 23, 2018 by Nasheman

Congress president Rahul Gandhi today said the BJP’s “lying factory” was at work again, stymieing a media story on Cambridge Analytica allegedly being paid to sabotage the Congress by spinning “fake news” of the party working with the data firm instead.
Picking up from where he left off yesterday, Gandhi today again accused the BJP of making the real news “vanish” by accusing the Congress of working with the controversial firm charged with stealing data from Facebook.

BJP lying factory at work: Journalist set to break big story on how Cambridge Analytica (CA) was paid to infiltrate and sabotage the Congress in 2012. BJP rushes Cabinet Minister to lie and spin fake news: Congress worked with CA! Real story vanishes, Gandhi said on Twitter.

He also tagged a media report headlined, ” ‘Whistleblower’ Reveals Cambridge Analytica’s India Link”. The Congress and the BJP are engaged in a slinging match with each accusing the other of using the services of the controversial data analytics firm in previous elections.
Yesterday, Gandhi alleged that the government was managing headlines to deflect attention from issues such as the death of 39 Indians in captivity in Iraq and said the government was baiting the media. “Problem: 39 Indians dead; Government on the mat, caught lying. Solution: Invent story on Congress and Data Theft. Result: Media networks bite bait; 39 Indians vanish from radar. Problem solved,” Gandhi had tweeted.

Filed Under: India

‘Asia Jewels Fair 2018’ to dazzles Bangalore city! Best place to Pre book your Jewellery for upcoming Akshaya Tritiya festival…!!! At Conrad Bengaluru from 6-8th April’18…

March 23, 2018 by Nasheman

Asia Jewels Fair ’18, one of South India’s most Glamorous Jewellery Exhibition is hosting its 13th edition in Bengaluru city from 6th to 8th April. The Grand jewelry fair will take place at the Conrad Bengaluru Hotel situated at Ulsoor (Near 1 MG-Lido Mall)- the newest and most luxurious 5 star hotel in Bengaluru from 10.30 a.m to 8 p.m. This show is a very exclusive one as for the first time the expo will showcase never seen before best jewelry designs from top handpicked jewelers from across India, All under one roof.

The Show will be Inaugurated by Ms Angana Roy the renowned South Indian Actress at 11:30 am on 6th April 2018 at The Conrad Bengaluru Hotel.
Asia Jewels Fair ‘18 is a niche event exhibiting exclusive and high-end branded gold and diamond Jewellery among others. The event showcased some of the latest collection from, Fine gold Jewelry, Diamond Jewelry, Platinum Jewelry, Traditional Jewelry, Wedding Jewelry, Precious stone Jewelry, Kundan ,Jadau & Polki Jewelry to name a few.

Special Highlight of the Exhibition: The landmark Exhibition will showcase one of the Shobha Shringar Jeweller’s finest creations- The Femina Miss India crown 2017 The crown comprises 8000 magnificent diamonds along with 60 splendid rubies, and was worn by current Miss World, Manushi Chhillar

“Asia Jewels Fair is one of the finest jewelry exhibitions in the city. Pre book your jewelry for the upcoming Akshaya Tritiya festival & for all the prospective grooms and brides, a fair like this is a one stop-shop that brings some of the best jewelry, design and precious stones under one roof. It is the perfect destination to buy exquisite and world class jewelry in South India.”

On display are Luxury jewelry designs from top leading brands of Bangalore, New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Kolkata creating the most glamorous & spectacular platform for all branded jewelry. Adding to the exquisite display was a dazzling array of International jewelry designs, from top most brands all over India like:


1.Malabar Gold & Diamonds,Joyalukkas – The World’s favorite jeweller ,P.C. Chandra Jewellers

2.Amrapali Jewels ,Creations Jewellery,Sri Ganesh Diamonds & Jewellery,Shobha Shringar Jewellers – Mumbai,Nikhaar Jewels,Orra Jewels,Diamond Mantra,Abira Jewellers – Kolkata,

3.Ananya Jewels,Gold Karat –Delhi,Design Source By Archana Aggarwal –Delhi,Sehgal Jewellers – Delhi, Ziva Jewellery – Mumbai, Karma Jewels, Reyna Gems & Jewels, Aura By

4.Surana Jewellers –Delhi, K.Jewels – Delhi, Hedron

About Asia Jewels Fair 2018

Asia Jewels Fair is an exquisite and most sought after event show brought to you by the Introduction Trade Shows Pvt Ltd.

Filed Under: Campaign

Maldives president lifts 45-day state of emergency

March 22, 2018 by Nasheman

Hundreds have been arrested since Abdulla Yameen declared an emergency [Mohamed Sharuhaan/ Al Jazeera]

by Al Jazeera

The Maldives has lifted a 45-day state of emergency imposed by President Abdulla Yameen to annul a Supreme Court ruling that had overturned criminal convictions against nine opposition leaders.

In a statement on Thursday, the president’s office said Yameen lifted the emergency “in an effort to promote normalcy” despite there still existing a “diminished threat to national security”.

Under the emergency, security forces arrested former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Yameen’s half-brother, as well as two Supreme Court judges and a top judicial administrator on charges of trying to topple the government.

All four were charged with terrorism on Wednesday.

A court in the capital, Male, ordered they be held until the end of their trials.

If convicted of terrorism, they could be jailed for up to 15 years. The two judges and their aide have also been charged with receiving bribes to help overthrow the government.

Mohamed Nasheed, the Indian Ocean archipelago’s exiled former president, said Yameen lifted the emergency because “he now has no need for it”.

Nasheed was one of the nine whose terrorism conviction the Supreme Court had quashed.

In a Twitter post, he said Yameen has “overrun the judiciary and legislature, arrested hundreds unlawfully and introduced a “new normal” in the Maldives – full dictatorship”.

Those arrested included opposition parliamentarians, journalists and a former police chief.

Some 141 were arrested on Friday alone when thousands of opposition supporters defied the emergency and staged a protest in the Maldives’ congested capital. Most have since been released.

The opposition accuse Yameen, who assumed power in 2013 following a disputed election, of abuses of power and siphoning millions of dollars from state coffers, allegations he has denied.

During his tenure, nearly all opposition leaders have been jailed or forced into exile. That includes the leaders of the coalition that brought him to power, two of his former vice presidents, as well as a former defence minister.

Crackdown continues
Meanwhile, following the arrest of Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Judge Ali Hameed on February 5, the remaining three judges on the Supreme Court reversed their earlier ruling ordering the release of dissidents.

They also suspended a section of the verdict that reinstated 12 parliamentarians who were removed for defecting to the opposition.

The 85-member parliament, where the ruling party holds a majority without the 12 defectors, then pushed through a law that strips judges of their seats if they are convicted of a criminal offence.

Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, the minority leader, was arrested under the emergency on Saturday and has been remanded for nine days.

Nasheed, the opposition leader, had urged neighbouring India to send an envoy backed by its military to help free Gayoom and the judges. India did not comment on the request, but said it was “deeply dismayed” by Yameen’s extension of the initial 15-day emergency in late February.

The emergency also drew criticism from the United States, and the European Union.

China, whose influence has been growing in the Maldives, said the crisis in the island nation was an “internal affair” and called on the international community to “respect the Maldives’ sovreignty and territorial integrity”.

The emergency also prompted a flurry of travel advisories to the Indian Ocean archipelago, known for its upmarket resorts.

Hundreds of hotel bookings were cancelled, according to media reports, but official figures show an increase in tourist arrivals in the month of February as compared with the same period last year.

Filed Under: Muslim World

Britney Spears’ Ex – Kevin Federline Wants Her Fortune

March 22, 2018 by Shaheen Raaj

Just recently, it was revealed that Britney’s ex – Kevin Federline has asked for more money child support. He is the father of both of her amazing sons. While Britney treasures her children and would do anything for them, a lot of people are wondering how her current and substantial child support payments are falling short. Which led to Britney’s father meeting with Kevin’s attorney and demanding to know why Kevin needs more cash. Even Dittany Spears is pissed that Kevin Federline is grubbing after more cash. Really, anyone who’s ever had to pay a bill in their life has some questions about a guy who says that $20,000 a month isn’t enough to pay for two kids who only live with him sometimes. Now, it turns out that someone else is mad about it, her dad. Jamie is Britney’s father, and he apparently sat down with Kevin’s attorney. The meeting was set up last week, when Jamie received a letter from Kevin Federline’s attorney, asking for a sit-down and face-to-face meeting to discuss Kevin’s request for more money cjild support. Jamie had apparently already been suspicious of why Kevin might “need” more child support money each month. So it’s probably safe to say that he was wary. Now It seems that Kevin’s attorney told Jamie at this meeting that, since Jayden & Sean Preston are now 11 and 12 respectively, attending to their needs and wants during his time with them had grown more expensive. More than $10,000 per month each, apparently. Jamie then reportedly asked what exactly the boys needed but Kevin currently couldn’t afford to give them. Besides Kevin’s attorney apparently couldn’t answer, but told Jamie that Kevin wanted to be able to take care of the boys “at Britney’s level.”

Gwen Stefani Dumped By Blake Shelton

Just weeks ago, fans were wondering if and when Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton would have a baby. Now, they’re wondering if the two will ever see each other again. But it seems Gwen and Blake have broken up. The idea of Blake Shelton being the one to break up with Gwen sounds absurd. Even though she’s more famous and more successful outside of the Country music crowd, she fell for her The Voice co-star. Until recently, it had looked like he was just as crazy about her. “Gwen doesn’t know what hit her,” a source reveals. “She’s heartbroken. Of course, she is. Blake is only, what, her third serious relationship that she’s ever had in her life? This is a woman who loves with her whole heart. She continues to send him loving social media support from LA while he’s been out on the road.” Which explains her continued social media posts about missing him while he’s on his tour. But Blake has drastically slowed down regular communication with her.” it seems that Blake’s motives for breaking up with his better half, which really drives home the rumor that Blake is high on fame and money, after his time on The Voice. but of late Blake’s through with Gwen’s neediness and all the drama: her demanding, critical ex-husband and her jealousy of him and other women. It was also rumored that Blake was cheating with Chloe Kohanski. Of course, she couldn’t resist People’s “Sexiest Man Alive”. So She told him that she didn’t want to spend her life in fear of her famous partner cheating on her.” Besides after what Gwen went through with Gavin, that’s a very understandable fear. Especially since it was also rumored that Blake cheated on Miranda just as much as she did on him.

Kim Kardashian’s Kraziest Klause In Her Will

Kim Kardashian, has dedicated most of her public persona to looking her absolute best at all times. This has been the case for nearly all of Kim’s life in the spotlight…… and it will apparently be the case when Kim is close to the end of her life. In a video she recorded this week, the former “sex tape actress” explains to fans that she has inserted an unusual clause into her will. It doesn’t have to do with where her possessions go after Kim dies, but rather how her hair and makeup are done while she’s still alive. Kim stated, “I made a section in my will that if I am so out of it that I can’t even communicate, and I am like shitting on myself, I definitely need my hair, my nails and my makeup done.” Of course someone who even gets all dolled up even while topless and eating noodless would want to maintain her appearance at all times, despite her health. Poor Kim thinks so much about how fans view of her and has so much stock in her outer beauty, that she can’t imagine a day when she simply doesn’t care. She can’t imagine still being able to draw a breath without considering whether her nail color matches her eye-shadow.

Younes Bendjima Hurls Accusations At Scott Disick

Younes Bendjima has more than just a pretty face. But he also has a mouth that spits red hot fire. The surprisingly long-term boyfriend of Kourtney Kardashian shared a few words this week that simply had to be directed at Scott Disick. Bendjima did not call Disick out by name, but he did write the following: “Sometimes those who don’t socialize much aren’t actually anti-social. They just have no tolerance for drama, stupidity and fake people.” Disick, of course, has become as well known as his point for partying and for being extremely social as he has for nearly anything else. It’s the reason Kourtney finally pulled the plug on their romance years ago: Disick was off in France, drinking and spending time with an ex-girlfriend and it was all too much for Kardashian to handle. So it seems rather apparent that when Bendjima brings up socializing as he does above, he’s pointing his finger right at Disick and calling him out for being “stupid” and “fake”. Bendjima has been dating Kardashian now for over a year.

John Bailey Investigated

John Bailey, who became the 34th president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is under investigation by the organization following multiple allegations of sexual harassment. An Academy subcommittee led by David Rubin began reviewing the allegations recently after receiving three separate claims of harassment. John Bailey did not respond to a direct request for comment. The Academy, later on, issued the following statement: “The Academy treats any complaints confidentially to protect all parties. The Membership Committee reviews all complaints brought against Academy members according to our Standards of Conduct process, and after completing reviews reports to the Board of Governors. We will not comment further on such matters until the full review is completed.” Bailey, a veteran cinematographer who succeeded Cheryl Boone Isaacs as president, has represented the cinematographer’s branch of the Academy for one and a half decade. His film credits include Ordinary People, American Gigolo, The Big Chill and Groundhog Day. In 2014, Bailey received the American Society of Cinematographers’ Lifetime Achievement Award.

Rihanna Blasts Snapchat

The powers that be at Snapchat learned two valuable lessons recently that “Domestic Violence is never even remotely funny”, and “Don’t mess with Queen RiRi”. The folks in charge of marketing for the social media app made the bizarre decision to run the ad. It so happened that Rihanna was assaulted by Chris Brown in 2009, as who could forget such a revolting incident? But Of course, it is as freshly horrifying as the attack remains for her millions of fans, no one but Rihanna knows just how traumatic Brown’s attack truly was. And so it’s not surprising that the outspoken music icon was quick to let Snapchat management know just what she thought of their latest ad campaign. Rihanna says, “Snapchat I know you know you ain’t my fav app out there! But I’m just trying to figure out what the point was with this mess!” the singer wrote in a statement posted – where else? – on Snapchat. “I’d love to call it ignorance but I know you ain’t that dumb. You spent money to animate something that would intentionally bring shame to Domestic Violence victims and made a joke of it.” Rihanna added: “This isn’t about my personal feelings, cause I don’t have much of them…but all the women, children, and men that have been victims of Domestic Violence in the past and especially the ones who haven’t made it out yet….you let us down! “Shame on you. Throw the whole app – oligy away.”

Katy Perry Harasses An American Idol Singer

On the season premiere of the rebooted American Idol, the popular singer and this season’s lead judge greeted 19-year-old contestant Benjamin Glaze with a playful peck on the lips. She did so after Glaze told the panel that he had never kissed anyone before. The episode was filmed in Oct, 2017, but did not air until this week, and the quick spit swap seemed like a harmless exchange of bodily fluids at the time. But then Glaze opened up a couple days later and said, “I was a tad bit uncomfortable. I wanted to save it for my first ever relationship. I wanted it to be special.” Benjamin works as a cashier in Enid, Oklahoma and explained that he comes from a very conservative background. He has been keeping his lips to himself on purpose and then Katty Perry came along and simply laid one on him. Added the aspiring artist, “Would I have done it if she said, ‘Would you kiss me?’ No, I would have said no. I know a lot of guys would be like, ‘Heck yeah!’ But for me, I was raised in a very conservative family and I was very uncomfortable immediately. I wanted my first kiss to be very special.” Even prior to these quotes going viral, Katty Pery had been critized harshly by insiders who basically alleged she has no clue what to do or say as a judge. The unwanted kiss took place after Glaze entered the audition room and judge Luke Bryan mentioned Perry’s 2008 track “I Kissed a Girl,” asking: “Have you kissed a girl and liked it?” Producers clearly were aware of Glaze’s background and told Bryan to touch on it. Glaze said he had never gotten to first base and added: “I have never been in a relationship and I can’t kiss a girl without being in a relationship.” Katty Perry then proceeded to call the teen over and he gave Katty Perry a peck on the cheek… prior to her pulling him close for one on the lips. The singer, it should be mentioned, did not earn a Golden Ticket to Hollywood.

Filed Under: Film

CBI Files Another Bank Fraud Case

March 22, 2018 by Nasheman

Yet another bank fraud has come to light, with the CBI filing a case against Hyderabad-based Totem Infrastructure Ltd for allegedly defrauding a consortium of eight banks led by Union Bank of India (UBI) to the tune of Rs 1,394 crore.

A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team also carried out raids at several places here after filing the FIR against the firm and its Promoters and Directors Tottempudi Salalith and his wife Tottempudi Kavita.

The CBI filed the case on the basis of a complaint filed by UBI which was cheated of Rs 303.84 crore by the firm.

“Loan was taken from a consortium of eight banks including UBI which was the lead bank. Total dues outstanding for the consortium is Rs 1,394.43 crore. This account became NPA on June 30, 2012 after loan and interest payment default,” a CBI official said.

Totem Infrastructure was in the business of road projects, water works and building construction.

It is alleged that funds were diverted and expenditure was inflated, the official said.

On Wednesday, the CBI filed a case against a Chennai-based jeweller, Kanishk Gold Pvt Ltd, for defrauding a consortium of 14 banks led by the State Bank of India to the tune of Rs 824.15 crore in the form of loans that have now been declared as non-performing asset (NPA).

(IANS)

Filed Under: Business & Technology

Batra Questions Ministry’s Decision To Trim CWG list

March 22, 2018 by Nasheman

Indian Olympic Association (IOA) President Narinder Batra on Thursday trained his guns at the sports ministry for trimming as many as 21 officials from the Indian contingent for the upcoming Commonwealth Games starting at the Gold Coast April 4.

According to the list, the ministry has omitted the names of the Chief Medical Officer and an assistant physiotherapist of the IOA besides other officials of the National Sports Federations (NSFs).

“I haven’t received the official list from the ministry as yet, but from what I have come to know from the media that 21 names have been deleted. This also includes the Chief Medical Officer and an assistant physiotherapist of the contingent,” Batra told reporters on the sidelines of the send-off ceremony of the contingent.

“I am not here for any blame game with the sports ministry. The final list is cleared by the ministry, the (IOA) is like a postman, as the NSF’s send us the list which we forward to the ministry for approval. The NSF’s are autonomous bodies, we have no hand in trimming the list. It is the ministry who has the authority,” he added.

Batra maintained that the physio or the medical officer are mandatory requirements of any contingent and further said that it is the ministry who should shoulder the responsibility if an athlete underperfoms in such a scenario.

“I don’t see any reason in dropping a physio, masseur from the team, they are mandatory requirements. Tomorrow if an athlete’s performance is hampered, then don’t blame the federations or the athlete. Instead the ministry should take responsibility of its actions,” Batra said.

Batra has often been at loggerheads with the ministry since assuming office. When queried about the reasons, the International Hockey Federation (FIH) President said: “There is no enmity or war with the ministry, we understand the demands and needs of the federations and the athletes but somewhere there is lack of understanding in certain bureaucrats of the ministry.”

“Take the case of boxer Sarita Devi during the 2014 Incheon Asian Games. There was no one to protest on behalf of her as the coach had to prepare for the next boxer’s bout.

“There are no extra officials, who are going for a vacation misusing public money. There is a 33 percent quota and beyond that if there is a requirement, such officials can travel and the expenses will be borne by the respective NSFs. I don’t have any power to delete their names from the list,” he added.

Earlier, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and his junior Minister Kiren Rijiju wished the contingent during the send-off ceremony here.

Batra, along with Secretary General Rajeev Mehta distributed the official kits to the members of the Indian contingent.

Wishing the athletes, Rijiju said: “I am confident the Indian contingent will return with a huge haul of medals from Australia.”

(IANS)

Filed Under: Sports

Israel admits striking Syrian ‘nuclear facility’ in 2007

March 22, 2018 by Nasheman

Jerusalem, March 21 (IANS) The Israeli military on Wednesday acknowledged its involvement in airstrikes that demolished a suspected nuclear facility in Syria 11 years ago.

Israel said the air raid in the eastern Deir-al-Zour region in 2007 had removed “an emerging existential threat to Israel and the entire region”. It said the reactor was close to being completed.

Previously, Israel never admitted it was involved in the strikes. On Wednesday, the Israeli censor’s office lifted a long-held prohibition on publishing information on the attack, the BBC reported.

In a statement, the Israeli military said that in the assault, dubbed “Operation Out of the Box”, Israeli fighter jets attacked and destroyed an undeclared nuclear facility in Deir-al-Zour on September 6, 2007.

Several months after the strike, the US announced that intelligence indicated the site was a nuclear reactor with military purpose.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said in the past that the site was “very likely” to have been a nuclear reactor. It also suggested that it was being built with the help of North Korea.

Syria, which has joined the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, has denied this.

The attack was a result of an extensive intelligence effort. The collection of information began in 2004 and included cooperation with “parallel security forces”, the Israeli military statement said, hinting at top-level coordination between the Israeli government led by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and the George W. Bush administration ahead of the strike.

Commenting on the operation, Israel’s then Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi said the Army feared the strike would spark a war in the region and took steps to prevent an escalation as part of the preparations for the operation.

Israel’s Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, who served as commander of the Northern Command during the operation, said: “The lesson from the 2007 attack on the reactor is that Israel will not accept the establishment of a capability that constitutes an existential threat to Israel. This is the message to our enemies in the near and far future.”

The issue recently resurfaced after Olmert compiled a memoir during his time in prison, where he served a 16-month corruption sentence.

The manuscript, which included a chapter about the attack and Olmert’s part in leading to the decision to execute it, was sent for review to the censor’s office.

(IANS)

Filed Under: World

‘Bengaluru’s Taps May Run Dry If Authorities Don’t Act’ (March 22 is World Water Day) By Bhavana Akella

March 22, 2018 by Nasheman

Water taps in India’s Silicon Valley may soon turn dry if authorities don’t revive Bengaluru’s water bodies and conserve scarce water resources, ecological experts stressed on Thursday.

“The city is sitting on a ticking time bomb. Considering the rate at which we are consuming water and are exploiting ground water through bore wells, depleting the water levels more rapidly than ever before, we are likely to run out water very soon if we don’t act now,” Chairman of Bangalore Environment Trust (BET) A.N. Yellappa Reddy told IANS.

Till 1970, the city of pensioners and gardens with salubrious climate through the year had enough water to meet the needs of its denizens from wells in the backyards of every home, borewells and supply from water bodies, including rain-fed lakes, reservoirs, ponds and tanks.

When the city began growing in the 1980s and expanding rapidly from 1990s due to the advent of Information Technology (IT) and other sectors of the economy, the state-run Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) was forced to pump daily water from the Cauvery river, about 130 km southwest of the city, using powerful pumpsets, to meet the increasing demand.

With illegal constructions and encroachments, the city’s land infiltration capacity has been tampered with, preventing rain water from being absorbed into the soil, asserted Reddy, the former secretary of the state government’s Department of Ecology, Environment and Forests.

“Nearly 85 per cent of Bengaluru’s land has been turned impervious and the storm water drains (designed to drain excess rain water from streets) have become sewage water drains due to poor maintenance,” the environmentalist lamented.

With the state and central governments being “indifferent” to the bustling city’s growing water issues, its natural resources are only disappearing, he said.

Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), in a statement on Wednesday quoting a study by its “Down To Earth” magazine, named Bengaluru among the 10 global cities that are fast approaching “Day Zero”, when the city’s taps will run out of water.

The analysis comes few months after Cape Town, one of the richest cities in South Africa, caught global attention for its severe water crisis nearing Day Zero, when water ration of 25 litres per day, the minimum required to sustain life, will be supplied through trucks.

Below-average rainfall since 2015 had dried up Cape Town’s reservoirs, leading to the unprecedented water crisis.

With Bengaluru’s 11-million-strong population expected to double by 2031, and the water consumption going up while the ground water levels are sinking, the city may soon see its own Day Zero, the study assessed.

Due to resource constraints and topographical challenges, the BWSSB has not been able to supply water to one-third of the city, especially the upscale southeast and southwest suburbs which witnessed explosive population growth owing to the concentration of IT firms, including multinationals.

As a result, of the 11-million population, a whopping four million people are forced to depend on borewells, water tankers and shrinking lakes for sourcing water.

In the process, the city’s water table went down from 10-12 metres to 76-91 metres in 20 years, while the extraction wells have gone up from 5,000 to 450,000 in a period of 30 years owing to increasing population.

Bengaluru Mayor R. Sampath Raj, however, said the city running of water was just speculation and asserted that there was no shortage of water in the city.

“I think these assessments are based on speculation. While I appreciate the thought for bringing people’s attention to the possibility of running out of water and generating awareness, I can assure the people of Bengaluru that the city is not going to run out of water anytime soon,” Raj told IANS.

The city’s civic body budget for 2018-19 has also laid special focus on reviving the lakes and developing storm water drains, he said.

Minister for Bengaluru Urban Development and Town Planning K.J. George asserted that the city will have no water issues till at least 2030.

“Bengaluru will not face water crisis anytime soon. The situation has improved a lot since 2012, when the city was pumping only 900 million litres per day from the Cauvery,” George had earlier said in a Facebook post, downplaying a BBC report that the city may soon run out of water.

“Of the 1,500 million litres per day water required by Greater Bengaluru city, it currently draws about 1,300 million litres per day from Cauvery river, of which over 25 per cent goes waste due to leakage, pilferage and theft.”

Even if the city’s population doubled to 20 million, the state’s projects will ensure water supply till 2031, George had said. “The freshwater supply per person will be around 88 litres per day with a water loss of 25 per cent due to evaporation.

While the city’s authorities may have the intent to alleviate a possible water crisis, effective implementation of water-related projects is what is lacking, averred Bangalore Political Action Committee (BPAC) Chief Executive Officer Revathy Ashok.

“There is need for a multi-pronged approach when it comes to water — implementing rain water harvesting, sewage treatment plants and pushing for lake revival, while simultaneously ensuring water pilferage is checked during distribution,” Ashok
stressed.

(IANS)

Filed Under: Environment

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