National
Water tariff hike inevitable in Bengaluru despite any objections: K'taka Dy CM
Bengaluru, Aug 22 (IANS) “Water tariff in Bengaluru has not been increased for the last 12-13 years and the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) is struggling to manage because of this. Hence, regardless of all objections, a hike is inevitable,” said Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar on Thursday.
He was speaking at the launch of the ‘Cauvery Connection to Your Doorstep, Cauvery Water Connection to 110 Villages’ campaign held in the Vidhana Soudha premises on Thursday.
Dy CM Shivakumar emphasised the necessity of providing water to the 1.40 crore population of capital city Bengaluru.
He stated, “We must take loans and expand the connection network to supply water. Without a tariff increase, the water supply company will not survive, and its employees will not be able to sustain themselves. The company is struggling to pay its electricity bills. We have not yet decided by how much the tariff will be increased. Let there be discussions, and let there be protests, but I am committed to this.”
“In the last 14 years, electricity bills have been increased multiple times. To address this, a separate company within the department has been established, allowing the department itself to generate electricity through solar and other sources, leading to cost savings. All departments related to Bengaluru can collectively develop this programme,” Dy CM Shivakumar said.
“With foresight, a company has already been prepared. Due to the establishment of the solar park in Pavagada, electricity is now available at Rs 3.5 per unit. When this was initiated, many mocked, asking if we had lost our minds. But this has resulted in significant cost savings in the supply of electricity,” Shivakumar explained.
“Since BWSSB is under my control, many have come forward to discuss new projects. A similar proposal was made when I was in the energy department. In places like Mumbai, private companies supply electricity. As long as I am here, none of this is possible. I told them to leave this matter aside and not to bring it up in the news, and I sent them back,” Shivakumar said.
“Both water and energy are very important sectors. Previously, I was the Energy Minister, and now I am the Water Resources Minister. During former CM JH Patel’s tenure, there was a proposal to privatise water supply. Later, during former CM SM Krishna’s government, when I was the Urban Development Minister, there was extensive discussion on this topic.
“There was an elaborate discussion in the Assembly. At that time, SM Krishna sent me abroad to study water supply privatisation. I visited France and other countries. They have a certain system in place there. I told SM Krishna that our BWSSB engineers work better than the engineers abroad,” the Dy CM stated.
“Those who went abroad returned and continued working with us. They suggested replacing the water pipelines and establishing a new system, which would cost 30 per cent more. That system is not suitable for our state; it is more appropriate for cities like Delhi and Mumbai. Due to widespread opposition to privatisation, the proposal was dropped,” Shivakumar maintained.
“As soon as I assumed office, the water supply was increased by 6 MLD. An additional 100 TMC of Cauvery water has been supplied to Tamil Nadu beyond the allocated share of water. We cannot hold back the surplus water. If we had another dam, it would have been more beneficial to them. I believe we will get justice in the Mekedatu project case in court,” Shivakumar said.
“Some people have reported that the allocated water for the city can be directly drawn from KRS dam. There is also a consideration to bring water from Sharavathi River. However, the locals there are opposing it. The Yettinahole project has taken different turns due to political reasons, but I have brought it to a certain stage. The stalled work on the fifth phase of the Cauvery project will be resumed,” the Dy CM informed.
When asked about the allegations that the Congress was responsible for the Governor traveling in a bulletproof car, he said, “The police have taken this step to protect him because there is a possibility that BJP and JD(S) miscreants might throw stones. We have information that BJP and Dalit members are trying to disrupt law and order to tarnish the government’s image. We respect the Governor, which is why he has been provided with protection.”
When asked about the BJP’s protest against the Congress alleging insult to the Governor, he replied, “In a democratic system, anyone can criticize anyone, be it me or you. We must certainly give respect to those who deserve it. We definitely respect the Governor.”
–IANS
mka/rad
National
Defence Ministry: Year 2025 will be year of reforms
On Wednesday, the Defence Ministry announced that 2025 will be designated as the “Year of Reforms,” with a primary focus on establishing integrated theatre commands to enhance collaboration among the three branches of the military.
These reforms are aimed at transforming the armed forces into a technologically advanced, combat-ready force capable of executing multi-domain integrated operations, the ministry stated.
The initiative will emphasize emerging domains such as cyber and space, alongside cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, hypersonics, and robotics.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described the “Year of Reforms” as a pivotal milestone in the modernization of the armed forces.
“It will set the stage for significant advancements in the nation’s defense capabilities, ensuring the security and sovereignty of India in the face of 21st-century challenges,” he said.
National
A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning
A 3.2 magnitude tremor struck Gujarat’s Kutch district on Wednesday morning, according to the Institute of Seismological Research (ISR).
The district administration reported no casualties or property damage following the quake.
The tremor occurred at 10:24 am, with its epicenter located 23 kilometers north-northeast (NNE) of Bhachau, as per the Gandhinagar-based ISR.
Last month, the region experienced four seismic events exceeding a magnitude of 3, including a 3.2 magnitude tremor just three days ago, with its epicenter also near Bhachau.
Earlier tremors in the area included a 3.7 magnitude earthquake on December 23 and a 3.2 magnitude event on December 7, according to ISR reports.
Kutch was also jolted by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake on November 18, 2024. On November 15, a 4.2 magnitude quake hit Patan in north Gujarat, based on ISR data.
Gujarat is considered a high-risk earthquake zone, having experienced nine major earthquakes over the past 200 years, according to the Gujarat State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA). The 2001 earthquake in Kutch, which occurred on January 26, was the third-largest and second-most destructive in India in the last two centuries, according to the GSDMA.
National
Diljit Dosanjh faces legal action over concert songs
Singer and actor Diljit Dosanjh’s much-anticipated New Year’s Eve concert in Ludhiana faced legal hurdles after a complaint was filed by Punditrao Dharenavar, an assistant professor from Chandigarh.
Following the complaint, the Deputy Director of the Women and Child Department, Government of Punjab, issued a formal notice to Ludhiana’s District Commissioner, urging them to prohibit Dosanjh from performing specific songs during his live show on December 31, 2024.
The notice specifically targets songs accused of promoting alcohol, including Patiala Peg, 5 Tara Theke, and Case (Jeeb Vicho Feem Labbiya), even if the lyrics are slightly modified. The complaint points to previous warnings issued to Dosanjh by various commissions advising against performing these controversial tracks.
Despite these warnings, the singer allegedly continues to perform the songs with minor alterations. Dharenavar raised serious concerns about the influence of such music on young audiences, especially when minors are present at live events.
Adding to the controversy, Dharenavar referenced a 2019 Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling, which directed law enforcement to ensure that songs promoting alcohol, drugs, or violence are not played at public events, including concerts. This ruling underscores the legal basis for the complaint and has further intensified the scrutiny surrounding the event.
National
UP Minister’s convoy overturns, 5 person injured
Five people sustained injuries when a vehicle in the convoy of Uttar Pradesh Minister and Nishad Party chief Sanjay Nishad overturned into a ditch near Januan village in the Khejuri Police Station area of Ballia district late last night.
Sanjay Nishad shared details of the incident, stating that the accident injured five party workers, including four women.
“I was traveling with the convoy to participate in the Constitutional Rights Yatra organized by the party on Tuesday night. Near Januan village in the Khejuri area, one of the vehicles following the convoy lost control while trying to avoid an animal and overturned into a ditch,” Nishad explained.
The injured individuals have been identified as Rakesh Nishad, Ramrati, Usha, Geeta, and Iravati Nishad.
Senior police and administrative officials quickly arrived at the scene following the incident to oversee the situation.
National
Suchir Balaji’s mother alleges Murder
The mother of Suchir Balaji, a 26-year-old former OpenAI researcher found dead after accusing the company of copyright violations, has alleged that her son was “murdered” and called for a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) probe.
Poornima Rao, Suchir’s mother, claimed her son’s death was a “cold-blooded murder” that authorities wrongly ruled as suicide. She further disclosed that a private autopsy report conflicted with the findings of the initial police investigation.
Rao alleged that her son’s apartment had been “ransacked” and cited evidence of a struggle in the bathroom, including bloodstains that suggested he had been assaulted.
“We hired a private investigator and conducted a second autopsy to uncover the truth. The private autopsy does not confirm the cause of death stated by the police. Suchir’s apartment was ransacked, there were signs of a struggle in the bathroom, and it appears he was hit based on blood spots. This is a cold-blooded murder being misclassified as a suicide. Lobbying in San Francisco won’t deter us from seeking justice. We demand an FBI investigation,” Rao wrote on X.
Elon Musk reacted to Rao’s post, commenting, “This doesn’t seem like a suicide.”
Balaji was discovered dead in his San Francisco apartment months after accusing OpenAI of violating copyright laws during the development of ChatGPT, as reported by Fox News. Despite these claims, the San Francisco Police Department found no evidence of foul play and ruled the death a suicide.
On October 24, shortly before his death, Balaji voiced doubts about the “fair use” defense in generative artificial intelligence. “I recently participated in a NYT story about fair use and generative AI, and why I’m skeptical ‘fair use’ would be a plausible defense for a lot of generative AI products,” he wrote on X.
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