BENGALURU:  Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who on Sunday morning carried out surprise inspection of waste processing plants at Kannahalli, Seegehalli and Doddabidarakallu, remained dissatisfied with their functioning, since these units were not processing waste to their full capacity.

At the Kannahalli plant, Shivakumar, who is also the Bengaluru Development Minister, found that the facility which was supposed to derive energy out of waste was not doing so. On checking the register at the entrance of the unit, he found discrepancies with the number of garbage trucks that have entered the premises. 

The Seegehalli plant, which has a capacity to process 120 metric tonnes of garbage, was non-functional and Shivakumar directed officials to get the unit started. He found garbage dumped by the roadside near Seegehalli, and turned towards the BBMP officials, questioning, “Such illegal dumping is happening in a city like Bengaluru. Who should be held responsible for this

He said that day-by-day, the garbage generated by Bengaluru is increasing and measures will be taken to handle it scientifically. He directed the BBMP officials to come up with solutions to put an end to the waste management woes in Bengaluru. He said he will soon be inspecting landfills too.

Shivakumar also inspected Indira Canteens in the city, where he found that the food that was supposed to be sold for Rs 5, was inflated to Rs 10. In one canteen, the food was over before 9 am and when Shivakumar inquired, the staff informed him that 208 plates had been sold.

At T Dasarahalli ward’s Indira Canteen, the DyCM ordered khara bath and kesari bath and had breakfast with other customers, and took their feedback. The Deputy CM also noted that the helpline number to lodge complaints against the canteen was non-functional. He assured that steps will be taken to fix the issues related to Indira Canteens.

BENGALURU: The Karnataka APMC (Regulation and Development) (Amendment) Bill, 2023, was tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday.

“It is proposed to restore the earlier provision under the Act, which enables APMCs to have control over trading of notified agricultural produce at their yards to protect the interests of farmers,” according to 
the Bill.

It said farmers, who sold their produce outside APMC yards, are prone to exploitation by traders in the absence of a regulatory mechanism. Also, the flow of revenue to the government under different heads of taxes has been affected because of trading not taking place at APMC yards.

The Bill stated that farmers will be benefited by way of competitive and fair prices for their produce sold under the Unified Market Platform. As there is no online system to ensure transparency in trading outside APMC yards, farmers will not get remunerative prices for their produce.

There is a mechanism under the Act for settlement of disputes between farmers and functionaries at APMC yards regarding weight and payment made for the produce sold. But the same dispute redressal mechanism is not available for transactions made outside APMC yards by farmers, the Bill said. Continued on: P4

“Approximately one lakh people are working at APMC yards by obtaining licenses from APMC committees. Porters, weighing men, cart operators, and assistants for traders, commission agencies and stockists are among them. These workers will lose their jobs. Hence, there is a need to amend the existing law,” the Bill stated. Further, the Bill explained that APMCs contribute to the Revolving Fund set up by the government for implementation of the Minimum Support Price Scheme. 

“When prices of agricultural produce fall below MSP, the revolving fund comes to the rescue of farmers. Prior to the amendment of the Act, APMCs contributed Rs 125 crore to the revolving fund annually. Because of the amendment, the APMCs’ role has been restricted to their yards only, affecting their income. Hence, the contribution to the revolving fund has come down to 50%, which is Rs 60 crore,” it stated.

The Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, The Karnataka State Road Safety Authority (Amendment) Bill, 

and Karnataka Legislature (Prevention of Disqualification) (Amendment) Bill were among the Bills tabled in the Assembly on Wednesday.

Miscreants stole tomatoes worth B2 lakh grown on a two-acre farm at Gonisomenahalli village of Belur taluk in Hassan district on Tuesday night. According to the police, the miscreants came in a goods vehicle and took away 90 bags of tomatoes. Officials have promised compensation to the farm owner.  

BENGALURU: The Congress government has decided to order a judicial inquiry into the 40% commission allegation made by the Karnataka Contractors’ Association against the previous BJP government. It is also likely to probe the alleged scams that took place in the Irrigation Department during the pandemic. 

The probe panel will be headed by a retired judge. “Chief Minister Siddaramaiah held a high-level meeting with Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma and Additional Chief Secretary Rajneesh Goyal four days ago on the matter.

All procedures have been followed and some retired judges’ names have been suggested to head the panel. A decision was taken on Tuesday and an order will be issued soon,” sources in the CMO

Meanwhile, former chief minister Basavaraj Bommai welcomed the government’s decision and expressed the hope that the probe will bring out the truth. He demanded that the government investigate all scams that took place in the state since 2013.

Former minister and Rajarajeshwari Nagar MLA Muniratna has filed a defamation suit against contractors’ association president D Kempanna for not giving any evidence supporting the 40% commission allegation made against some ministers in the previous BJP government, Bommai said.“If the government is really against corruption, all scams that took place from 2013 

to March 2023 should be investigated. Whoever is guilty should be punished. Why is this government selective in ordering investigations into scams?” 

Siddaramaiah as Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly raised the issue and sought a judicial inquiry in 2022 following the association’s allegation. The association had also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate action in this regard. Congress also made it a poll plank.

“One of the reasons for people rejecting BJP in the May 10 Assembly elections was the 40% commission allegation. Major development works in the state stopped because of this,” Industries Minister MB Patil told reporters on Tuesday, welcoming the decision of the government to order a judicial probe.

BENGALURU:  The Legislative Council was adjourned without any discussions on Tuesday, as the Opposition BJP was firm that they should be allowed to take up a debate on the failure of the Congress government in implementing the five guarantees.

As soon as proceedings started in the morning, BJP MLC and former minister Kota Shrinivas Poojari asked the Chairman to allow discussion on the failure of the government in implementing the guarantees and setting terms and conditions in the implemented schemes. But minister Krishna Byregowda said there is a procedure that has to be followed and discussions can be allowed only after the Question and Answer and Zero Hour. Even the Chairman insisted the same and the BJP members entered the well of the House, demanding the Chairman to allow for discussion.

This created pandemonium in the House as the ruling and opposition members engaged in verbal attacks against each other, forcing the Chairman to adjourn the proceedings for a while.

The BJP continued the protest even after the House was reconvened, the proceedings were adjourned again. As the same continued even in the afternoon, the Council was adjourned till Wednesday, after tabling the secretary’s report and 12 Bills passed in the previous session and approved by the Governor, amid the din

BENGALURU: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and former Maharashtra minister Vinod Tawde, who were appointed BJP’s central observers to pick the Leader of Opposition (LoP) and chief of the party’s state unit, gathered the opinion of BJP MLAs and core committee members on Tuesday. It is likely that the BJP central leadership may announce names for the two posts in a day or two.

The observers held a marathon one-on-one meeting with several MLAs and core committee members before leaving for Delhi, where they will submit their report to party national president JP Nadda. Party sources said Nadda will deliberate with the party’s central leadership, following which the announcement will be made on Wednesday or Thursday.

Sources revealed that former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai and former minister and Karkala MLA Sunil Kumar were the frontrunners for the post of Opposition leader. Meanwhile, it is said that former minister Kota Shrinivas Poojari is likely to be the LoP in the Upper House.

While the state presidents of Telangana, Punjab, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh were announced on Tuesday, central observers also gathered the opinion of state leaders on appointing the chief of the state unit, as incumbent president Nalin Kumar Kateel’s tenure ended before the polls, and was extended. While names of many leaders are doing the rounds for the state president’s post, the central leadership is trying to strike a balance on the caste front, while making the two appointments.

BJP MLC and state general secretary N Ravikumar said the observers have collected opinions, and an official announcement of names for the two posts will be made soon in Delhi. Former CM and MP DV Sadananda Gowda said he had told the observers of the need to appoint an able opposition leader.

HUBBALLI:  Authorities in Hampi have brought down 17 resorts and restaurants in and around the heritage area of Hampi over the last one week. All these resorts were running despite notices served to them three months ago.

They were running within the Unesco-protected zone and buffer areas. The operations were carried out in Sanapur, Anegundi in Koppal and Kamalapur and Kaddirampur areas in Vijayanagara districts.

But many resort owners have not taken the of fer, instead, they have approached court to bring a stay against further demolitions. So far, nearly 40 structures have been razed by the authorities in the last two years. Recently, the villagers and resort owners protested against the authorities over the demolition.

“Most homestays and hospitality structures were temporary and attracted tourists from all over the world. The authorities must make alternative arrangements to ensure there is enough space for locals to run our business like before,” said a resort owner from Sanapur.

Officials from the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority said that all the resorts that were demolished had received notices three months ago. “The operation was conducted with the help of the police. All the demolished structures were part of the Hampi heritage zone. As per laws, no construction can be allowed in these areas,” said an official.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that by taking political decision regarding providing rice to the State, Central Government has snatched Kannadiga’s and poor people’s share and proved that Central Government is anti Kannadiga and anti-poor

He was addressing an emergency press conference regarding Annabhagya in Shakti Bhavan here today.
State Government has already lauched one of the 5 guarantees and had decided to give 10 kg each food grains under Anna Bhagya scheme to Antyodaya and BPL card holders and had written to Deputy General Manager of Food Corporation of India that the State requires 2.28 lakh MT rice on June 9, 2023. Food Corporation of India had accepted State’s request and agreed to provide rice vide letter dated June 12, 2023 at the rate of Rs. 3400/- per quintal. CM expressed outrage about Central

Bengaluru: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah opined that MP Pratap Simha lacks political maturity.

He was speaking to media persons here today.

Responding to thestatements made by MP Pratap Simha, the CM said ‘he says that he is responsible for the construction of Bengaluru roads. ‘Is he the MP for the Bengaluru roads’ questioned the CM. I have never spoken to opposition parties in my political life and never have visited their houses while in power. If I happened to come across them I will only talk courteously, but won’t discuss politics”, he added.

In response to the allegation made by MP Pratap Simha, that the Congress and the BJP had joined hands, the CM said that, ‘If they know who has joined hands, let them come out with information”. Responding about the MP’s statement regarding conducting investigation about Pay CM allegation made by the Congress, The Chief Minister questioned ‘did they ask us to carry out an investigation? It is up to us to decide when and by whom the investigation should be carried out.

Not an official meeting
Responding to a reporter’s question regarding two Government officials attending a meeting chaired by Karnataka in-charge Randeep Surjewala in yesterday’s BBMP meeting, the CM said that it was not an official meeting. He said that the Deputy Chief Minister met the MLAs and participated in the meeting to seek legal opinion Incidentally, they also spoke about the BBMP elections in the meeting. Surjewala was waiting to visit the Hebbal flyover the CM explain

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah and deputy CM DK Shivakumar.

Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Friday quashed a case against Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in relation to violation of Covid-19 restrictions, during the Mekedatu Padayatra in January 2022, when they were in opposition.

The case against the two Congress leaders and several others was filed under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act and the IPC, which was challenged before the HC.

Justice M Nagaprasanna noted that the state government had not issued any notification under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act barring padayatra and such activities.

The HC also quashed four other proceedings against Shivakumar — who is also the state Congress chief — that were initiated against him under the same Epidemic Diseases Act.

“The notification which the State relies upon is the one issued under the Disaster Management Act and not under the Epidemic Diseases Act. Therefore unless notification under Epidemic Diseases Act is issued barring such activities, taking recourse to the Disaster Management Act and bringing it into Epidemic Diseases Act is unavailable,” the HC said in its order quashing the case.

The complaint against Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar along with eleven others was filed by the tahsildar of Ramanagara on January 12, 2022. It was alleged that they had violated the Government orders and went ahead with the padayatra without permission.

A local magistrate had taken cognizance of the crime and initiated proceedings.

The Congress, then in opposition, had staged a padayatra demanding the implementation of the Mekedatu reservoir project across the Cauvery river, near Kanakapura in the Ramanagara district.

Quashing the case, the HC said, “The registration of the case and the filing of the charge sheet by the police for violation of Epidemic Diseases Act is rendered unsustainable. All other offences alleged under IPC are offshoots of Section 5 of the Epidemic Diseases Act. That having been rendered unsustainable, all other offences would also follow suit.”

BENGALURU: BJP on Friday slammed the Congress government for reversing the policies of the previous government and accused it of trying to turn Karnataka into a “mini-Pakistan.”Former minister and BJP MLA R Ashoka told reporters that BJP will not allow Congress to misuse the mandate given by people. Questioning the state government’s decision to undo the amendments to the Anti-Conversion Law, he asked what is wrong with the policy to prevent forcible conversions and allow conversions as 
per law. Congress goes to any extent for vote bank politics and its government is making changes in the law to appease a particular community, he alleged.

He said the BJP government had amended the APMC Act to allow farmers to sell their produce in any part of the country and not just at APMC yards, but now the Congress government is undoing those changes to help middlemen.

The government has failed to implement its pre-poll guarantees and there is talk of industries moving to other states because of power tariff hikes, he said.

On the state government’s allegations against the Centre for not providing rice for Anna Bhagya scheme, Ashoka asked whether they think “the Centre is like their in-laws’ place to provide whatever they ask. Tomorrow, if they want to sell Karnataka, can the Centre agree to it?”

The state government requires over Rs 1,10,000 crore to implement all its guarantees and that will push the state to bankruptcy. He said BJP leaders will hold a meeting to discuss their planned protest against the decisions of the state government on June 20.