Kannada film actor, director Rakshit Shetty casts vote in Udupi despite busy shooting schedule
He packed up shooting at 5.am on Thursday in Bengaluru and drove to Udupi to cast vote
Udupi: Prominent Actor and Director of Kannada film industry arrived in Udupi from Bengaluru on Thursday despite busy shooting schedule, to cast his vote for the first phase Lok Sabha election in the state.
Rakshit who was busy shooting for his movie ‘Avane Shri Mannarayana’ till late of April 17 night and in the wee hours of Thursday, packed up shooting at 5.am on Thursday and drove his car all the way from Bengaluru to Udupi to cast his vote.
He arrived in Udupi at around 1.pm and reached Kukkikatte Govt aided school polling station along with his family to franchise his vote.
Rakshit will now leave for Bengaluru tonight and will start shooting for the movie from Friday morning.
Speaking to media, Rakshit said “I finished shooting early in the morning and left for Udupi. I will go back tonight and start shooting tomorrow morning. Any party which comes to power should work towards developing the country”.
Speaking about the movie ‘Avane Shri Mannarayana’ he informed that the movie will be released in August this year in five languages.
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Karnataka HC sets aside NGT order against MEG over Halasuru Lake pollution
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has quashed a May 20, 2022, National Green Tribunal (NGT) order that held the Madras Engineering Group (MEG) and Centre, Bengaluru, responsible for pollution in Halasuru Lake.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Aravind ruled that the NGT's order, which imposed an environmental compensation of ₹2.94 crore on MEG, was issued without granting them an opportunity to be heard, violating principles of natural justice.
The court has remanded the case back to the NGT, Southern Zone, Chennai, for reconsideration. The NGT has been directed to decide afresh on the imposition of environmental compensation after providing a fair hearing to MEG.
However, the High Court ordered MEG to deposit ₹1 crore with the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB) as per the August 2024 NGT directive. This deposit will remain subject to the outcome of the fresh proceedings.
The NGT initiated the case in March 2016 following a news report that alleged pollution by a slaughterhouse, MEG, and the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB). The BWSSB was also directed to pay ₹1 crore as environmental compensation.
Additional Solicitor General Arvind Kamath, representing MEG, argued that an open stormwater drain under BWSSB flows through MEG’s premises into the lake, contributing to the pollution. He stated that the sewage load from MEG is minimal and plans for a 1,200-KLD sewage treatment plant (STP) are underway.
The bench noted that no proper liability assessment had been conducted against MEG, and no opportunity was provided for them to present their defence before the demand notice was issued.
The matter will now be re-examined by the NGT.
