Karkala theme park: HC issues notice to state govt on PIL to re-erect Parashurama’s statue
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court issued notice to the state government on Tuesday in connection with a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) asking for a reinstallation of the bronze statue of warrior-seer Parashurama in the theme park in Karkala, Udupi district.
The 33-foot statue in the park had to be brought down a few months after installation in 2023.
Petitioner Uday Shetty Muniyal had asked the HC to direct the state government to re-erect the statue by issuing fresh tenders and engaging a reputed sculptor, reports LiveLaw. Further, he alleged that there had been a serious fraud in the construction of the statue, with brass being used in place of bronze, which would endanger public safety and violate public trust. Muniyal added that the upper portion of the statue, which was dismantled in October 2023, has been stored outside the park, leaving the theme park incomplete and hurting the sentiments of devotees.
A division bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice CM Joshi had directed the petitioner during an earlier hearing to deposit Rs 5 lakh with the High Court registry within two weeks to contribute towards reinstallation of the statue. Muniyal’s advocate Srikanth VK told the HC on Tuesday that the petitioner had deposited the money as directed and now sought an issuance of notice to the respondents by the HC.
Accordingly, the HC bench issued notice to the state government and adjourned the case for hearing to December 10.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
