‘NH 66 widening in Uttara Kannada district is a scam’: Nagarik Vedike demands CBI probe
Bhatkal: Bhatkal Nagarik Vedike, Bhatkal has submitted a memorandum alleging involvement of several state-level officers and ministers are involved in a multi-crore scam pertaining to NH 66 widening in Uttara Kannada district.
In a memorandum submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of the district through Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner, the organisation has demanded a CBI probe into the matter.
The organisation alleges that the state government and authorities have amended the Gazette Notification which they are not authorized to and are carrying out the NH widening work according to their needs.
“At few places they are widening it upto 45 meters, at some places they have altered it to 30 meters and at some places they are making it 20 meters, according to their need or due to the pressure from local businessmen” the memorandum added.
The memorandum stressed upon unearthing the scam immediately in the interest of local residents and to avoid further loss to the state, and hence it demanded a probe by CBI.
Official at Bhatkal AC office accepted the memorandum in the absence of AC and assured the members of the organisation to forward it to the office of Deputy Commissioner.
Shivkumar Naik, Ishwar Naik, Manjunath Naik were also present along with other members of the organisation at the AC office.
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BMC turning blind eye to air pollution issue, says HC; questions nod for over 125 projects in city
Mumbai (PTI): The Bombay High Court on Wednesday castigated the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) for turning a "blind eye" towards the issue of air pollution in the city and for "not doing anything" to mitigate the problem.
A bench of Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad also questioned as to how the BMC has granted sanction to over 125 construction projects over Rs 1,000 crore in a small city like Mumbai, stating that the situation has now gone beyond the civic body's control.
The court had warned the BMC that it would pass orders restraining it from granting any further permissions for construction if the air pollution situation persists in the city.
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"How can 125 projects worth more than Rs 1,000 crore be sanctioned in such a small city? That is a lot. Now the situation has gone beyond your (BMC) control. Now you are not able to manage things," HC said.
The court urged the BMC to strengthen its mechanism in such a way that the measures are preventive in nature and not remedial.
The court was hearing a bunch of petitions raising concerns over the deteriorating air quality index in the city.
"The BMC is not doing anything. Even the minimal requirement is not being done. You (BMC) don't have anything in place. There is no implementation plan," the court said.
The civic body has not applied its mind at all, it added.
"The BMC is not working at all. There is no monitoring. The BMC has turned a blind eye to the issue," the HC said, adding the measures taken have to be preventive and not remedial.
The court noted that despite having wide powers, the BMC was not doing anything.
The high court was also irked with the 91 squads of the BMC not conducting inspections at construction sites.
Senior counsel S U Kamdar, appearing for BMC, said on Tuesday 39 sites were visited. The officers of the other squads are busy with election duty, he said.
The bench then said election duty cannot be an excuse.
"You (BMC) can always make an application to the election commission seeking exemption," it said.
Kamdar told the bench that AQI on Wednesday was at 88 which is considered satisfactory. The situation last year was worse, he said.
The bench, however, said simply saying pollution has decreased does not mean the BMC was working.
When the court questioned what the corporation proposed to do in the next two weeks, BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, who was present in the court, said the squads would inspect a minimum of two construction sites per day and take necessary action.
The bench said the squads should be provided with button cameras and GPS devices.
The bench posted the matter for further hearing on January 20.
