Archives for November 2021

Parmesh Jain

The raid on BDA offices across the city carried by ACB officials on Friday continued even on Tuesday as the sleuths searched five offices situated across the city and unearthed large scale irregularities.

Over 100 officials formed into several teams carried out the search operation,in the offices including East BDA office, RT Nagar,Vijayanagar, HSR Layout and Banashankari offices and found massive irregularities which caused huge loss to the state exchequer.

According to the officials, in the land acquisition section,the officials and staff have allegedly created fake documents to facilitate rewarding compensation to non deserving persons.

There were huge irregularities while sanctioning CA sites which had been granted in HSR and HBCS layouts were misused.

Despite having the knowledge about the irregularities,despite having information,neither the officials nor the staff have initiated any action against the persons or organizations for violations.

The location of the sites allocated to the beneficiaries have been changed illegally to give them sites in different locations.

Big dimension sites have not been alloted for personal gain and the officials and staff allegedly allowed private parties to encroach to build sheds illegally on these sites.This has caused huge loss to the state exchequer,the probe revealed.

Sites alloted to the land owners after land acquisition process has been granted to the actual beneficiaries,and the officials alloted such sites to others.

corner sites have also been allotted illegally instead of auctioning them as per the rules there are no proper records maintained.

In Kempegowda layout land acquisition compensation has been granted to third parties instead of actual owners.

The search continued at these offices and many persons have filed a complaint to ACB even on Tuesday.The ACB has requested people who have grievances or complaints can approach the ACB.

The ACB officials are probing further to ascertain who are the officials involved in the irregularities says a release by ACB.

Parmesh Jain

The BBMP Administrator and Additional Chief Secretary to the government of Karnataka Rakesh Singh, BBMP Chief Commissioner, Gaurav Gupta held a meeting with all zonal commissioners,Joint commissioners,Chief engineers of all zones and other officials were present and directed officials to take precautionary measures during the rains in the city and control the flooding.

In the meeting held to discuss the damages due to the incessant rainfall in the city,he said,that in the city precautionary measures should be taken and see to it that no damages occur.In this direction,all officials were directed to work in tandem,he said.

During the rainy season,in the Kaluves,Drains on either sides of the road and in the shoulder drains all the waste should be cleaned and ensure that water flows smoothly.

Due to the digging of the roads,the officials were directed to ensure no mud flows into the drains or the Kaluves and clear it before any mishaps happen.

In the Palike limits,BESCOM,BWSSB should take necessary permissions from the Palike if they have to compulsorily dig the road and after digging,immediately it should be repaired and closed.

After the repair,the Palike officials should assess the spot.In all the wards,on priority basis the work should be taken up,said the administrator to respective zonal engineers who have taken up projects and inspect the same.

Chief Commissioner,Gaurav Gupta said,that during the rainy season,no damages should occur in the roads.

And to ensure no water clogging on the roads and the drains on either sides of the road and shoulder drains should be cleaned and ensure smooth flow of water,he instructed the officials.

In the respective zones,the ward engineers who have taken up projects should ensure that the repair and completion of work is done and inspect the same time to time.

The Bescom and BWSSB shouldn’t dig the road without any permissions from the Palike and do the work unnecessarily.

And if any departments violate,immediate action to be taken against them.Along with that,if the damage is done,the respective departments should take up the repair work and complete it, he said.

After the rain stops in the city,in all zones immediately the road work and filling of potholes to be taken,Also, with the roads which are damaged immediate repair work should be taken. The road repair work should be done in a quality manner, he said.

Parmesh Jain

PM gets details on damage caused by unseasonal rains in the state

Prime Minister,Narendra Modi and Home Minister,Amit Shah today dialled Karnataka CM,Basavaraj Bommai and sought details of rain-related damages in Bengaluru and the state after a record rainfall this November.

Yesterday, a video of SDRF personnel rescuing apartment dwellers using boats went viral.The visuals portrayed the sorry state of Yelahanka zone in Bengaluru due to heavy flooding.

Chief Minister,Bommai explained the extent of loss of human lives,damage to crops and public property to the Prime Minister.

Modi expressed concern at the havoc caused by flooding.The Prime Minister assured all assistance and cooperation from the centre to take up relief and rehabilitation.Bommai also explained the rescue and relief works being undertaken by the state government.

Union Home Minister,Amit Shah too dialled Bommai and obtained information on the flood situation and relief works.

He expressed regret at the loss of life and damage to crops.Bommai briefed Shah on the relief works being taken up by the state government.

Parmesh Jain

Chairman of Karnataka Agriculture Price Commission,Hanumanagouda Belagurki submitted the report for the year-2021-22 to Chief Minister,Basavaraj Bommai.

The report would be studied and suitable action would be initiated on the recommendations of the report in the interest of the farmers,Bommai said on the occasion.

The report contains analysis and recommendations on extent of agriculture and horticulture crop cultivation,crop productivity, production cost,transport cost and other aspects of agriculture.

The report has been prepared in association with five Agriculture and Horticulture Universities in the state.

The report has highlighted the ways and means for improving the income of farmers,adoption of integrated farming, boost for rural entrepreneurship,making crop insurance compulsory and farmer-friendly.

Parmesh Jain

An immediate compensation of Rs.10,000 for the houses which were affected due to water entering the premises, and Rs.5 lakh for the houses which were completely destroyed and an amount of Rs.1 lakh for the houses which were damaged would be paid soon for those who suffered due to incessant rains and flooding in Yelahanka area recently, Chief Minister,Basavaraj Bommai said.

Speaking to media persons after his visit to waterlogged Kendriya Vihar Apartment in Yelahanka Bommai said,I have ordered release of Rs10,000 today itself for those who had to suffer due to water entering their homes.

About 400 houses are affected in Yelahanka area. About 10km of main roads and 20km of interior roads are also damaged.

I have instructed for preparing the estimates of damage to infrastructure.Funds would be released immediately to take up repair works.”

The Chief Minister, Bommai attributed the flooding problem to hurdles for Rajakaluves. Work for widening of 50km of Rajakaluves had been taken up.It had been decided to take up widening of 50km more.

The width of the Rajakaluves need to be widened from the present 8–10feet to 30ft.Necessary measures would be taken for smooth flow of flood waters in Rajakaluves,he said.

Continuous rains in the last 3 days had filled Yelahanka lake which is overflowing. Flood water inundated the houses in surrounding areas and Kendriya Vihar apartment complex.

Water has submerged the basement of the apartment upto 4–5 feet.Local MLA Vishwanath provided food, water and other essential help for the residents who are stuck in their homes, Bommai said.

Drainage system for the Apartment :

There are 603 people residing in Kendriya Vihar apartment complex. Necessary drainage system would be provided for the complex to drain out the flood waters.

National Highways Authority would be approached to get necessary clearance to take up the works as the drains passed under the highway.Then only the problem could be solved permanently, Bommai said.

Source of the problem :

The problem had its source at Yelahanka lake which is connected to 11 more lakes upstream.

The heavy rains has led to overflow from all the lakes to Yelahanka lake which has two narrow Rajakaluves which are choked at many places or being encroached,the Chief Minister, pointed out.

Parmesh Jain

A Master plan to widen the major Rajakaluves(main Storm water drains) and build diversion canals in Bengaluru to ensure smooth flow of waters would be drawn up to address the problem of flooding,Chief Minister,Basavaraj Bommai said here on Tuesday.

Chief Minister,Bommai who visited Manyata Tech Park,Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research and surrounding areas which are flooded due to the incessant rains in the last few days said,JNCASR has been badly hit as the flood waters had entered the labs,damaged the equipments and vital research samples.It is a prominent institution engaged in research to better our future.

It is our duty to protect this institution.Necessary action will be taken to prevent water from entering the instiution,its labs and library in future.

A master plan would be drawn up to prevent flooding.Top heads of the institute would also be involved in formulating the master plan,”Bommai said.

Action to widen the Rajakaluves

Attributing the flooding to unusually heavy rains Bommai said,about 138mm of rains lashed the city in just 2 hours recently.All the lakes in and around Yelahanka are overflowing.

The situation is the same in many parts of the city.The existing Rajakaluves with a width of 8 to 10 feet are proving to be inadequate to carry the heavy flow.

The flood waters flow through Yelahanka lake and down to Jakkur lake,Rachenahalli lake and then towards KR Puram to join Pinakini river before entering Tamil Nadu.

Measures would be taken to widen the Rajakaluves and build diversion canals. Action to divert the waters from inundated apartment complexes and institutions would also be initiated,” he stated.

Encroachments on Rajakaluves would be cleared:

Replying to questions from media persons on evicting encroachments on Rajakaluves,Bommai said, BBMP had identified 714 illegal structures on Rajakaluves.

Houses and buildings which have come up on Rajakaluves would be evicted.However he assured that care would be taken to ensure that the poor are not affected by providing them alternative facility.

Houses and residential complexes on the Buffer Zones would be shifted after giving them adequate time to move.

PM Modi seeks report on rain havoc:

Flood havoc in the city has drawn the attention of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi as he called the Chief Minister on Tuesday morning and sought details.

The Prime Minister enquired about loss of lives, damage to crops and public property.He was particularly more concerned about Bengaluru.

The Prime Minister asked me to draw up short term and long term measures to tackle the problem,”Bommai said.

Improve drains at Manyata Tech Park :

Inspecting the water logging at Manyata Tech Park Bommai observed that the problem is being caused by flaws in internal drain system in the tech park.

He instructed the BBMP officers and the personnel of the tech park to work in coordination to address the problem.

Action should be taken at the earliest to ensure that those working in the tech park are are not affected,” he said.

A planned drainage system is needed to avoid flooding in the city.The Water from overflowing lakes is flooding the low lying areas.

A master plan to ensure smooth flow of flood waters from Yelahanka through Mahadevapura to Pinakini river would be drawn up, he said.

BENGALURU: As many as 121 candidates filed their nomination papers on the last day on Tuesday, for the Legislative Council polls for 25 seats which will be held on December 10. According to the state Chief Electoral Officer, a total of 215 sets of nominations were filed by 119 male and two female candidates. 

Members from local bodies — town and gram panchayats, municipalities and city corporations — will elect candidates. The BJP has already started its campaign by launching the Jan Swaraj Yathra and party leaders have been holding conventions at all districts since last week.

The BJP has fielded 57 candidates, the Congress 56 and the JDS 17. Apart from them, there are 68 independent candidates as well as from the Aam Aadmi Party, JDU, Karnataka Rashtra Samithi, Social Democratic Party of India and other minor parties.

Many of the candidates are related to MLAs and ministers. In Dharwad, KPCC working president Saleem Ahmed is contesting against Pradeep Shettar, brother of former chief minister Jagadish Shettar. Ahmed played a major role in the recent Hanagal bypoll where Congress candidate Srinivas Mane won in Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai’s home district Haveri. Mane was an MLC earlier.

The BJP’s Chief Whip Mahantesh Kavatagimutt is contesting against Congress MLA Lakshmi Hebbalkar’s brother Channaraj Hattiholi from Belagavi.  The Upper House has a strength of 75 members. At present, the BJP has 32 members, Congress 29 and JDS 12 with one Independent. After the death of JDS MLC Dharmegowda last year, the seat fell vacant.

The elections are being held for two seats each from the local body constituencies of Vijayapura, Belagavi, Dharwad, Dakshina Kannada and Mysuru, and one each from Bidar, Kalaburagi, Uttara Kannada, Raichur, Ballari, Chitradurga, Shivamogga, Chikkamagalur, Hassan, Tumakuru, Mandya, Bengaluru, Bengaluru Rural, Kolar and Kodagu.