Anybody found guilty by SIT won't be spared: Amarinder
Mandi Killianwali (Sri Muktsar Sahib), Oct 7 : Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh Sunday said anyone found guilty by the Special Investigation Team, probing the sacrilege incidents and police firing cases, would not be spared.
He also called upon people to wipe out the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) from both, the state and national politics by voting the Congress to power on all the 13 seats in Punjab in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.
Addressing a well-attended gathering here at Lambi, the home turf of Badals, Amarinder Singh accused former chief minister Parkash Singh Badal of lying about not having any knowledge about the police firing in Faridkot that took place in the wake of the Bargari sacrilege case back in 2015.
How could the chief minister of the state not know about such an important development, Amarinder Singh asked, pointing out that the then Director General of Police (DGP) had spoken to Badal as well as the Inspector General of the state before using force.
If, despite this, Badal did not know about the incident he should be ashamed, he added.
Stressing that his government had setup the Justice (Retd) Ranjit Singh Commission to expose the truth, the chief minister flayed the Badals for "failing to implement" the report of their own Zora Commission, formed to probe the sacrilege and firing cases.
"Beadbi (sacrilege) will not be tolerated at any cost, he said making it clear that his government would come down hard on those found guilty of sacrilege.
However, the chief minister clarified that he would not indulge in political vendetta and only the guilty would be punished as per the law.
People ask me everyday when will you arrest Badals. When the SIT submits report, then a decision will be taken who will be arrested or not," he said.
"There is a law and constitution in the country We will go as per law and investigations (conducted by SIT), he added.
Amarinder Singh also accused the Badals of "destroying" the lives of youth and farmers by failing to act on the issues of drugs and farm debts.
The chief minister further asked the crowd to ensure that a democratic government was formed in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
The Punjab Congress had informed the party high command that there was no need of an alliance in the state, he said, exhorting the people to vote the party to power with a sweeping mandate.
On the occasion, the Punjab Congress chief also declared that the party will win all the 13 parliamentary seats in the state.
The chief minister released 'Mission13' poster of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) to mark the launch of the party's Lok Sabha campaign.
He promised to fulfil all the demands of the people of Lambi, which SAD patriarch Parkash Singh Badal had failed to do, inspite of being elected from the constituency multiple times.
The chief minister came down heavily on the Akalis for the political victimisation unleashed during their rule, saying that misuse of power was the hallmark of their government.
Pointing to the establishment of Justice (Retd) Mehtab Singh Commission by his government, Amarinder said 4,451 complaints of false cases had so far been received, of which Commission recommended the cancellation of 355 cases.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Nearly 700 km of Karnataka rivers polluted; cities, towns depend on contaminated water
Shivamogga: A total of 693.75 of river stretches across Karnataka are polluted, and water from several of these rivers is being supplied to towns and cities, the State government informed the Legislative Assembly.
According to a report published by The New Indian Express on Monday, replying to an unstarred question by Thirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra during the winter session in Belagavi, Forest, Environment and Biodiversity Minister Eshwar Khandre said rivers are classified into five categories, P1 to P5, based on Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) levels, with P1 being the most polluted.
He reportedly said untreated domestic wastewater from urban and rural areas is the main reason for river pollution. Arkavati, Lakshana Teertha, Tungabhadra, Bhadra, Tunga, Cauvery, Kabini, Kagina, Krishna, Shimsha, Bheema and Netravati are the polluted rivers and so far, 112 polluted drainages along these rivers have been identified.
Khandre explained that rivers are classified into five pollution categories P1 to P5. The Arkavati River has been placed in the P1 category, while no rivers fall under P2 and P3. Tungabhadra, Bhadra and Shimsha are categorised under P4, and eight other rivers fall under P5.
Khandre allegedly said domestic wastewater from municipalities, towns and villages along riverbeds is being discharged into at least 17 rivers, identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This is the primary cause of river pollution.
According to the report, the minister said drinking water is being supplied from polluted rivers in districts such as Mandya, Ramanagara, Vijayapura and Shivamogga. In parts of Uttara Kannada, Ballari, Vijayanagara and Bagalkot, local bodies are also drawing water from polluted river sources.
In 2022-23, CPCB identified South Pinakini, Aghanashini, Sharavathi and Gangavali rivers too as polluted. But wrote to CPCB, stating that these rivers are not polluted and sought their removal from the list. An action plan is being prepared for the South Pinakini River, he said.
On remedial measures, Khandre reportedly said the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board is setting up sewage treatment plants as per the directions of National Green Tribunal.
As per the report, under 12 river rejuvenation plans, the state generates 817.31 million litres per day (MLD) of sewage. While 41 STPs with a capacity of 614.1 MLD are operational, 203.21 MLD of sewage remains untreated.
Work is underway to establish 19 STPs with a capacity of 248.91 MLD, while 39 more STPs with a combined capacity of 357.92 MLD are in the planning stage. Progress is being monitored and reported regularly to the NGT and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
The minister reportedly said the state government gave its approval for underground drainage works worth Rs 535.56 crore in 2021 for 24 cities/towns besides Rs 523.80 crore for nine UGD projects.
