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Steel flyover will make it hotter, it needs to be dropped

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The steel flyover project is an ugly manifestation of our unbridled urbanisation mindset. This is yet another myopic economic proposal to exacerbate urbanisation; it seems to us.

How this project will further endanger public health with no tangible benefits to the citizens at large.

The Hot Dome

Materials like concrete and steel absorb and hold heat significantly when compared to soil and vegetation. The urban built-up area with its impermeable layer of concrete is hotter than the surrounding rural areas. This creates an umbrella of hot air over the built-up area of the city and is called the ‘climatological dome’ or ‘urban heat-island’. Air pollutants, vehicular movements, loss of tree cover and other metabolic processes add to the heat increasing temperatures in the dome.

A mobile survey of air temperatures discovered heat islands in Bengaluru way back in 1977 as documented in the Bangalore Gazetteer of 1990, of Government of Karnataka. The built areas of Rajajinagar were found to be warmer than the vegetated Cubbon Park and Lalbagh. Another survey in 1985, which is also documented in the same Gazetteer, found the built-up areas to be 2.5oC to 3.2oC warmer than Lalbagh and Cubbon Park.

In 2016, a study by Harini Nagendra, a renowned ecologist from Azim Premji University, found persistent increase in temperatures with Northern and Eastern regions of Bengaluru showing higher temperature ranges. Heat conducting steel flyover with the cutting of 812 trees in the north and north-eastern parts will certainly render the dome hotter and un-breathable.

The health effects

The steel components of the steel bridge, insulated with rust proof paint will progressively release deadly particulate matter into the air. The increased vehicular movements, especially the diesel vehicles will not only intensify but also add to the particulate matter.

With raising temperatures, we have created perfect conditions for the more insidious ground-level ozone to form and amplify to fatal levels.

In 2017, Experts and Scientists from the Indian Council of Medical Research, Public Health Foundation of India and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation along with other Indian collaborators released the shocking data that ‘one in eight deaths in India is attributed to air pollution’. Tangibly, the death ratios for urban areas are even more freighting.

Again in 2017, Bengaluru’s disease burden study, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Indian Council of Medical Research, Union health ministry and the World Bank was released – establishing the fact that ‘Coronary heart disease topped the list and beat the national average with a wide margin’. Now, what is connection between Coronary heart disease and air pollution especially particulate matter of 2.5 microns?

According to peer reviewed scientific research published by National Institute of Health (under the aegis of United States Government), ‘People exposed to high levels of particulate matter pollution resulted in an increased likelihood of coronary heart disease’.

Bengaluru-based paediatric pulmonologist Dr Paramesh has published several studies in peer-reviewed medical journals on ‘how people, especially children are suffering from chronic cough and respiratory ailments because of air pollution’.

Thousands of peer-reviewed scientific papers are out there on health impacts of bad air quality. Blockage of tear ducts, sleeping disorders, COPD, exercise intolerance, heart diseases, diabetes, stress, decreased cognitive function, autism, attention deficit disorder, strokes…. and the list is endless.

Escalating air pollution is not a rocket science for people to understand. To tell the truth, when our children are being compelled to depend on artificial inhalers, we as parents don’t need any peer reviewed papers or pollution control board notifications to inform us that air quality is deteriorating. Nonetheless, we are being compelled to live with its consequences every day.

Load shedding and other ironies

Higher air temperatures inside the deadly dome increase energy demand for cooling. As the temperature increases, the electricity demand also increases. Load shedding is already a common phenomenon in Bengaluru during peak hours in summer. Are our grids ready to provide for that extra load?

It has been a nightmare for frequent flyers with the smog-filled skyline of Bengaluru obscuring visibility. Flights delayed, re-routed. Last week, a member of our trust was forced to lie around tarmac for four hours in the morning waiting for the smog to clear. A few minutes saved during transit on the steel flyover is lost by the endless hours of waiting on the tarmac and the runways, for the smog to clear. It is the same smog for which the steel flyover contributes.

In an airtight silo

Our urbanisation and the resultant economic activities are operating in an airtight silo, ignoring realties like climate change, air pollution and urban heat islands. These are treated as supplementary issues and seldom incorporated in diacritical policies or pivotal projects. Cumulative impacts of any project on public health will not be understood when these elementary realities are ignored. Ignoring will not make the problem to disappear, but will massively fuel public health emergencies.

The case of Delhi and Beijing

The air quality in Delhi is at emergency level even with the so called drastic measures. According to the emission inventory, 40% of the pollution is attributed to automobiles. Restriction of private vehicles activity has started to make way into the discussion. What is in discussion in Delhi is a reality in Beijing. To combat air pollution, Beijing now sets a quota for new private vehicles. In 2017 the quota was 150,000 cars annually and in 2018 it was reduced to 100,000.

Leapfrog towards solution

In Bengaluru, the citizens are now more or less accustomed to wearing masks as the air is not fit for breathing directly. The pollutants need to be filtered and kept out. There are several experiments happening in the city to install gigantic German manufactured air purifiers. If what’s happening in the national capital Delhi, Beijing and in our own backyard is any lesson to us, then building steel flyovers for the privileged few to roam about freely in their flamboyant automobiles, is not at all the solution we should be thinking about.

As a matter of record, cities like San-Francisco, Milwaukee, Madrid, Seattle, Portland and Seoul are dismantling freeways, even as we discuss this. By doing that, these cities are  moving towards a smart and healthy future for its residents and economy. We can stay far behind and try to feign catch up or we can leapfrog to building a smart city.

For Bengaluru to be a smart city, embracing public transport is perhaps the smart thing to do. This is not the time to re-invent recipes on how to build roads, but to change the whole menu of transportation itself for the betterment of the citizens of Bengaluru, who are hoping against hope for a pollution free environment.

Agencies

BBMP To Shut Commercial Establishment

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Soon after Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara issued order to BBMP, the local civic body has shut 20 commercial establishments in residential areas in eight BBMP zones on Thursday. BBMP had closed six establishments on Wednesday in Sadashivanagar.

However, BBMP has realised that it has a long way to go to meet the deadline to shut all the commercial establishments in residential areas. According to BBMP, there are 10,000 such commercial establishments operating in residential areas.

Manoranjan Hegade, Chief Health Officer, BBMP, told media, “We have shut 26 commercial establishments so far. All the zonal officials have been asked to inspect the areas and shut all such establishments in residential areas. We still have to shut at least 10,000 establishments, which can be covered by February,” he said.

The BBMP has issued notices to 2,000 establishments that are operating in the basements of the building which will also be removed during the drive.

UP cops pocket money for proper cremation, burn unclaimed body with waste

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Cops burn unclaimed body with waste in Uttar Pradesh

Nasheman news :  A shocking case of police corruption has emerged from Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh where local cops allegedly burnt an unclaimed body along with waste. Reports suggest that the accused personnel pocketed the money given to them by the department for giving the unclaimed body a proper cremation.

The police officers in question were given an amount of Rs 2,700 by the department to ensure that the unclaimed body is given a proper cremation. They were supposed to use Rs 300 out of the amount to buy a shroud, Rs 400 to move the body to a cemetery and the remaining Rs 2,000 for the cremation.

However, the officers decided to take the money for themselves and instead burnt the body along with tires and plastic waste using kerosene. After reports of the alleged corruption by these officials came to light, a police inquiry was initiated into their actions by the Uttar Pradesh police.

A former Deputy General of Police (DGP) said that it is expected of police personnel to give a proper cremation or burial to unclaimed bodies of unidentified persons. However, the fact that the policemen decided to pocket the money given to them by the department and burn the body along with waste shows not just blatant corruption but inhumane behaviour on the part of the erring policemen.

Nephew’s friendship with girlfriend, techie ‘plants’ gruesome murder

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Delhi techie murders nephew: On the night of Feb 6, 2016, when Jai Prakash was asleep, the accused smashed his head with the motor of a ceiling fan, which was lying in his flat for repair, the officer said.
Delhi Techie, Delhi Police, Bijay Kumar Maharana, Delhi techie Murder, Saplings plant on Dead body,

New Delhi: A 37-year-old man, who allegedly killed his nephew suspecting him of having an affair with his girlfriend, was arrested by the Delhi Police from Hyderabad after three years of the incident, officials said Thursday. Bijay Kumar Maharana, a resident of Odisha’s Ganjam, moved to Delhi in 2012 after his girlfriend shifted to the national capital. In 2015, Bijay’s nephew Jai Prakash also moved to Delhi from Hyderabad and they started living together at a flat in Delhi’s Dwarka area, officials said.

While Bijay used to work in an IT firm in Noida Sector 144, Jai Prakash was an employee of a Gurgaon-based company. Over time, Jai Prakash became close to Bijay’s girlfriend, which he didn’t like. Upset over this, Bijay planned to kill his nephew, Rajender Singh Sagar, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka), said.

On the night of February 6, 2016, when Jai Prakash was asleep, he smashed his head with the motor of a ceiling fan, which was lying in his flat for repair, the officer said. He dragged the body to his balcony and buried it in soil, which he had already arranged. He even planted saplings to alleviate any suspicion, the officer said.

After a week, he filed a missing complaint with police saying his nephew didn’t return after he went out with some friends. He stayed in the flat for about two months and then shifted to Nangloi in western fringes of the city. In 2017, he moved to Hyderabad, the officer said.

In October last year, Jai Prakash’s skeleton was found when the building was being renovated. The skeleton was wrapped in a blue-colour jacket, a shirt, a bed sheet, a blanket and a mattress. From the owner of the flat, police found about Bijay. The owner, Vikram Singh, also told police that two other tenants also lived in the flat after Bijay vacated it.

During investigation, Bijay was found missing and no one in his family or his group of friends knew about his whereabouts. He had changed his mobile number and stopped using his bank accounts after withdrawing all his money, the officer said.

With the help of technical surveillance, police located him after weeks of hunt. A team of the Delhi Police first went to Vishakhapatnam on December 26 and later travelled to Hyderabad on January 1 in search of Bijay. Bijay was nabbed on Sunday from Hyderabad and was brought to Delhi, he said.

Asian Cup: Brave India go down fighting to UAE

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Nasheman News :  A spirited India dominated pre-game favourites the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before going down 0-2 in their second Group A match at the Asian Cup football tournament here on Thursday.

The Indians dominated the first-half and were unlucky to miss out on their second consecutive victory at the Zayed Sports City Stadium here.

The Blue Tigers, who beat Thailand 4-1 in their campaign opener, will next play Bahrain in their last match on Monday.

India are presently on three points from two matches, same as Thailand, with hosts the UAE currently topping the group with 4 points from two matches. The UAE had previously drawn 1-1 with Bahrain.

It was a day when the Indians hit the post twice in the second-half and muffed two in the first-half.

The UAE took the lead against the run of play when Khalfan Mubarak (41st minute) produced a well placed finish a short while before the break. The hosts got their second goal a couple of minutes before the end of regulation time when a long ball caught most of the Indian defence out of position and Ali Mabkho (88th) scored with a good finish.

The Indians created around half a dozen clear chances, most of which came off the woodwork but it just seemed like luck was not on their side. In the first-half, India could have almost sealed it. 

The Blue Tigers started with an attacking intensity, and although lacked possession, chances came in bright and plenty. 

India could have surged into the lead as early as the 8th minute when Sandesh Jhingan got a free-header off a corner kick but headed it wide. 

Three minutes later, the Arab custodian Khalid Bilal pulled out a world-class save to break Indian hearts and deny Ashique Kuruniyan’s shot from close range after Sunil Chhetri had put him through. If that wasn’t enough of a goal scoring chance, skipper Chhetri was handed a golden opportunity in the 23rd minute.

Chhetri was found in the box by Anirudh Thapa but his header went straight to the rival goalkeeper.

Had India taken these chances, the Blue Tigers would have been up 3-0 in less than 30 minutes — such was the intensity of their counter-attacks which was promoted through the defensive solidity at the back.

With India unable to take their chances, the UAE scored against the run of play in the 40th minute.

Khalfan Alhamsi took advantage of a slight miscommunication in the Indian defence and found the back of the net through a chip from a tight angle. India had another chance to open their goalscoring tally after the UAE defence fluffed a routine clearance providing Chhetri with a tight angle to score.

Chhetri’s placement went inches past the goal as India failed to capitalise and went trailing into the breather. 

Changing over, the chances kept coming for India. In the 53rd minute, Jeje Lalpekhlua, who was brought on as a substitute for Halicharan Narzay, tried to slyly chip past the goalkeeper from range after a failed clearance fell to his chest. His shot, however, went past the goal and the UAE goalkeeper. 

In the 55th minute, the visitors rattled the crossbar after Udanta Singh’s shot kissed the bar and went away, following a one-two with Chhetri inside the box. In the 73rd minute, however, the UAE skipper Alhammadi’s shot rattled the left post. But they had the last laugh when in the 88th minute, Ali Mabkhout breached India’s defence and found the back of the net to take it beyond India’s reach.

A desperate India went all out and the UAE had another close shave when Sandesh Jhingan’s header off a Rowllin Borges’ free-kick bounced back off the bar.

Cabinet approves re-promulgation of triple talaq ordinance

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Nasheman News : The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal to re-promulgate the ordinance making instant triple talaq a criminal offence, sources said.

The decision to re-promulgate the ordinance was taken a day after the conclusion of winter session of Parliament during which the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2018, or triple talaq bill, could not be passed.

The bill was passed in the Lok Sabha but got stuck in in the Rajya Sabha, where the government lacks majority, since the opposition parties expressed reservations to some provisions of the bill.

The ordinance makes all declarations of instant triple talaq void and illegal and provides for up to three years’ imprisonment for invoking instant divorce by uttering talaq thrice in a single sitting.

The government is keen to get the bill passed and is expected to make another attempt for its passage during the short budget session of Parliament likely to begin on January 31.

The sources said that the Cabinet also gave its clearance to re-promulgate an ordinance to allow a committee to run the Medical Council of India.

The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2018 to replace the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 was passed in the Lok Sabha but was not taken up in the Rajya Sabha.

The bill provides for constitution of a Board of Governors that will exercise the powers of the Medical Council of India (MCI)

Malaysian MP calls on Modi

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Nasheman News : Malaysian Member of Parliament and Leader of the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Anwar Ibrahim party called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Thursday during the course of which the two leaders discussed ties between the two nations.

“The two leaders discussed bilateral, regional and global matters of mutual interest,” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a statement.

Ibrahim was accompanied by two other MPs of Malaysia, Kesavan Subramanian and Santhara Kumar Ramanaidu.

“Modi also congratulated Ibrahim on his recent election as President of the PKR Party,” the PMO statement said. 

Ibrahim was here to participate in the Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship annual geopolitical and geostrategic conference here.

India, US discuss Afghanistan peace process

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Nasheman News : India and the US on Thursday discussed the ongoing peace process in Afghanistan during a meeting between External Affairs Minister Sushm Swaraj and US President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad here.

“Both sides shared their perspectives on peace and reconciliation efforts in Afghanistan,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted soon after the meeting.

Thursday’s meeting comes after Trump earlier this month said that India was not doing enough for peace and stability in Afghanistan.

India hit back with sources here saying that New Delhi does not send troops abroad except under a specific UN mandate.

Pointing out that India plays a significant role as a development partner in Afghanistan, the sources said this partnership was built on the specific needs and requirements worked out with the Afghan government.

Khalilzad’s visit for an intra-Afghan political settlement reflects New Delhi’s stand that it is is for an “Afghan-owned, Afghan-led and Afghan-controlled” peace and reconciliation process.

Khalilzad is leading an inter-agency delegation to India, China, Afghanistan, and Pakistan from January 8-21

Earlier in the day, former Afghan President Hamid Karzai said that India’s role is needed in the war-ravaged country’s peace process.

“India and Afghanistan share an amazing relationship, an almost romantic one,” Karzai said in response to a question during a session in the Raisina Dialogue, India’s flagship annual geopolitical and geostrategic conference, here.

“Most of the Afghan people view in such good light… We want India to do as much as possible,” he said.

Stating that India is the “greatest contributor” to Afghanistan, Karzai said that it should play its role in the peace process on its own detached from other countries.

He said that an Afghan-owned, Afghan-led peace process is one in which the Taliban, along with other stakeholders, sit down for dialogue.

“It means truly the leadership of Afghanistan,” the former President said.

He said till now there have been three peace processes in Afghanistan – first by China, the US, Pakistan and Afghanistan, then by Russia engaging with the Taliban, and now the latest one with Trump appointing Khalilzad as his Special Envoy for Afghanistan.

“We have tremendous hope for the peace process (with Khalilzad’s role) to succeed,” Karzai said.

“Khalilzad himself is an Afghan and understands us, knows what peace means for us.”

Nageswara Rao again takes over CBI Director’s duties

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Nasheman News : A day after the removal of Alok Verma, Additional Director M. Nageswara Rao on Friday again took charge of the office of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director, the agency said.

Rao, a 1986-batch Odisha cadre Indian Police Service officer, took charge in pursuance of an order of the Department of Personnel and Training issued a day earlier.

Rao was first given charge as interim Director after the government on October 23 sent Verma on leave divesting him of his powers along with Special Director Rakesh Asthana following a bitter spat between them alleging each other’s involvement in corruption.

Rao has been again given the charge after Verma was on Thursday removed from the post within 48 hours after rejoining as CBI Director.

A 2-1 decision by a Selection Committee headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi with its other two members being Leader of Congress Mallikarjun Kharge and Supreme Court judge A.K. Sikri on Thursday decided to ease out Verma from the post of CBI Director.

Alok Verma removed as CBI chief, opposition attacks government

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Nasheman News :A day after he resumed duties, CBI Director Alok Verma was on Thursday unceremoniously removed from the post after a 2-1 decision by the high-level Selection Committee, a decision that came under attack from the opposition and legal experts.

The decision of the committee came after CJI nominee Justice A.K. Sikri of the Supreme Court sided with the government that Verma should be shunted out of the post on the basis of the findings of the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which went into some allegations levelled against him. 

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Justice Sikri and Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge, the other member of the committee, who gave a dissent note and opposed the majority decision.

Shortly after the meeting, Verma was appointed Director General, Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guard till January 31 when his tenure would end.

The government also brought back M. Nageswara Rao, Additional Director, CBI to look after the duties of the Director, CBI till the appointment of a new Director or until further orders, whichever is earlier, a notification by the Appointment Committee of Cabinet said.

Verma, who was removed from the agency’s helm on the midnight of October 23 after his fight with Special Director Rakesh Asthana became public, was reinstated on Tuesday by the apex court on the ground that the government cannot transfer or alter the duties of the CBI chief without going to the Selection Committee.

The committee’s members are the Prime Minister, leader of the largest opposition group and the Chief Justice of India. Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who heard the case arising out of Verma’s challenge against the government decision, nominated Justice Sikri as his nominee to attend the committee meeting. 

The Supreme Court, while reinstating Verma, had said that the Committee should meet within a week and decide the issue afresh. 

Modi convened the meeting of the committee on Wednesday but Kharge sought the CVC report on the allegations against Verma and also time to study it. The committee met briefly and decided to meet on Thursday. 

Sources said the Committee took into account the “extremely serious” nature of observations made by the Central Vigilance Commission against Verma.

It was of the view that being the head of a very sensitive organisation, Verma was not functioning with the integrity expected of him, they said. 

They said the CVC found evidence of influencing of investigation in the Moin Qureshi case. There was also evidence of taking of bribe of Rs. 2 crore. The CVC was of the view that his conduct in the case is suspicious, and there is a prima facie case against him. 

“The CVC also felt that the entire truth will come out if a criminal investigation is ordered,” the sources said citing the Committee’s view. 

In the IRCTC case related to former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, the CVC felt that it can be reasonably concluded that Verma “deliberately” excluded a name from the FIR for reasons best known to him.

The CVC found evidence against Verma in several other cases as well. The CVC also found instances of wilful non-production of record, and fabrication of record. The Committee also took note of Verma’s attempts to induct officers of doubtful integrity in the CBI.

On the criticism that Verma was not given an opportunity of being heard on the charges against him, the sources said Verma was given an opportunity to present his case before the CVC in the presence of retired Justice A. K. Patnaik. 

The Supreme Court also provided a copy of the CVC report to Verma’s advocate. The mandate of the Selection Panel headed by the PM is limited to the appointment of the CBI chief and transfer of the CBI chief, the sources said.

The Committee felt that as a detailed investigation, including criminal investigation, was necessary in some cases his continuation as CBI Director was not desirable and he should be transferred.

In his dissent note, Kharge demanded that the Committee restore to Verma the full powers he enjoyed by the office of the Director CBI to ensure proper functioning of the organisation and to restore normalcy. He also sought an additional period of 77 days being the number of days lost by him on account of the “patently illegal” orders of the CVC and the personnel department on October 28. 

Kharge said an independent investigation must be carried out to verify the actual events that took place on the night of October 23-24 with respect to Verma’s removal as CBI Director. 

Referring to the events of the midnight drama in October and the way the government hastened the exit of Verma would “point to the fact that the entire exercise was in furtherance of a pre-meditated decision to remove Verma as CBi Director with reasons and processes being manufactured as an afterthought”. 

He urged the Committee to allow Verma to explain himself before it on the charges against him before any decision is taken in the matter. 

Kharge also listed the various allegations made against Verma including influencing the investigation by taking bribe and illegal delay in finalising the probe report in a bank fraud case which were not substantiated, Kharge also listed and said in the light of the above it would be grossly unfair not to restore Verma to the post of the CBI chief and compensating for the loss of 77 days by extending his tenure by that period. 

Meanwhile, the removal of Verma as CBI Director came under severe attack from opposition parties and legal experts saying it was the “desperation” of the government as Modi does not want any probe into the Rafale jet deal.

The critics of the decision also asked how the committee could take a decision without hearing Verma.

The Congress criticised the committee’s decision and said Modi had shown that he was “too afraid” of an investigation into the Rafale deal. 

“By removing Alok Verma from his position without giving him the chance to present his case, PM Modi has shown once again that he’s too afraid of an investigation, either by an independent CBI Director or by Parliament via JPC,” the Congress tweeted. 

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said if it was a majority decision to remove Verma, then it was unfortunate. “I don’t know why Verma was not asked to reply to the charges against him. I have very poor opinion of the CVC,” he said.

Senior lawyer Prashant Bhushan saw a conflict of interest in the role of the Prime Minister, who is part of the three-member committee that also has Leader of the Congress group in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and the CJI nominated representative Justice A.K. Sikri of the Supreme Court.

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